Irrigation body demands funding and deadlines as minister reopens water-efficiency grants

At its national irrigation congress in Beja, the irrigation technology centre COTR argued that the "Água que Une" water strategy must come with funded, scheduled and assigned investments. The agriculture minister announced that grants for water-efficiency investment will reopen, and the agriculture directorate said the National Irrigation Council will be revived, aiming to meet by the end of October. A first national barometer found average water use in four crops at 84% of the Alentejo reference. Projections suggest irrigation needs could rise by up to 27.5% by century's end.