Spain is taking big-money steps too confront its ongoing drought with €2 billion in programs to boost the amount of water available to its cities and agriculture.
2023 has been the driest start to a year since records began in 1961, according to government weather agency AEMET, and the country’s water reserves are on average below 50% of capacity. In the two hardest-hit areas, Catalonia in the northeast and Andalusia in the south, levels are as low as 25%.
The biggest portion of the money, about €1.4 billion, will go to build new infrastructure, including plants to desalinate sea water and other measures to increase supply. Another €784 million is earmarked to help farmers and ranchers cope with the lack of precipitation; Agriculture Minister Luis Planas said the goal was to “ensure farmers and ranchers could continue to produce food.”
