Alqueva: Faab considers claims of "representatives" of the irrigators misplaced.
The Federation of the Alentejo Farmers' Associations (Faabu) can not but repudiate the recent news in the media about the representativeness of the irrigators 22 irrigation blocks, Irrigation in the Monitoring Committee of Alqueva (CAR Alqueva).
from logo, because his election lacks legitimacy. This, It resulted from meetings organized by edia, which the meeting did not mention specifically that it was the election of a representative of farmers, for each watering unit.
Furthermore,, in each block the beneficiaries are not organized in associations. So, any farmer elected in these meetings, regardless of their competence or capacity, lacks legitimacy representative. Moreover, these meetings were very little participated (less than 5% attendance), which further reinforces the weak representativeness of elected farmer.
Nor is it true that farmers belonging to 22 irrigation blocks are not represented in the CAR have seats which alqueva, in addition to government representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and edia, irrigators associations of the region and its federation (Fenareg), the Confederation of Farmers of Portugal, in CONFAGRI, the Association of Young Farmers of Portugal, Lower Alentejo Farmers' Federation and the Association of Farmers of the Lower Alentejo.
We understand it correctly the Ministry of Agriculture position, when it admits that only farmers organized in associations or other similar structures, according to the Decree-Law regulating new irrigated areas, can integrate the CAR Alqueva.
FAABA considers of the utmost importance that these farmers 22 blocks to establish themselves as irrigators associations, or integrate some of the existing associations. This is how to can and should gain legitimacy, and can integrate, not only that the monitoring committee, but also participate in the future management process around the perimeter of the EFMA.
It is recalled that last day 10, the irrigators, direct beneficiaries of 120 hectares that make up the hydro-agricultural component of EFMA (Venture Multi Purpose Alqueva), They want to integrate the Irrigation Monitoring Board of Alqueva (CAR Alqueva).
The demand was made public, the day held, in Beja, another meeting of the Council, the Consultative Body that deals with the problems and defines the water guidelines. These irrigators could not participate in the work, despite efforts from the Ministry.
For representatives of irrigators, elected in 22 perimeters of irrigation Alqueva, is "unacceptable" that are not heard and that "are the representatives of other uses confining, that they are not direct beneficiaries of EFMA "make decisions about the future of investment projective of irrigators.
John Cavaco, representative of the irrigation perimeter irrigation Beringel / Beja, You do not understand how it is possible for irrigators "get the door" meeting.
