The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco, has announced in Huelva that the Andalusian Government is ready to sign «now» the protocol to take over the completion of the Alcolea dam and start it «as soon as possible».
«We have been working and negotiating with the Ministry for the Ecological Transition for several months to unblock the completion of this strategic infrastructure that the Spanish Government left unfinished for so long,» explained the minister, who reiterated that «whenever the Ministry is ready, we can sign.»
Operational programs for the horticultural sector
During his speech at the closure of the Red Fruits Congress in Huelva, he also announced that Andalusia will advocate in Brussels for the enhancement of operational programs for the horticultural sector through the Assembly of European Horticultural Regions (AREFLH), as well as emphasize the need to address «the flexibility of operational programs, an increase in funding, and the reduction of bureaucratic obstacles.»
«From Andalusia, we will defend the Andalusian horticultural sector above a European policy that increasingly disregards the income of farmers, who see their budget reduced.» He will also stress the importance of regions having a say in European agricultural policy that needs to adapt, he said, to the productive reality of each area,» he added.
Fernández-Pacheco highlighted that the fruit and vegetable sector represents 12% of the cultivated area in Andalusia, «a significant figure that positions us as a European horticultural pantry of fresh products.» Productions that are already recognized internationally for their variety, excellence, and sustainability in production.
In the specific case of the province of Huelva, the minister emphasized the potential and strategic importance of the red fruits sector, supported by very good export figures. In 2024, it exported almost 329,000 tons worth more than 1.5 billion euros, 138 million more than in 2023.
And all this, as the minister pointed out, despite the numerous challenges facing the sector, including the defense of quality, competitiveness against third countries, the demand for more technology to be more profitable, and the trade war on the other side of the Atlantic,» he emphasized.
Over 40 million for OPFH in the province of Huelva
Fernández-Pacheco noted that the Andalusian government is aware of the challenges facing the sector, and therefore, part of the institutional support translates into strong support for Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organizations (OPFH), «a key piece for innovating, improving processes, and remaining a benchmark in competitiveness». In the province of Huelva alone, the 31 entities – 29 of which trade in red fruits – have received over 40 million euros for their operational programs in 2024, representing 27.6% of all Andalusia.
He also referred to the support from the Junta in generational turnover with aid for young farmers and breeders, where in the province of Huelva alone, there have been 272 applications, nearly half of which are from women, «a figure that makes Huelva the province with the most female applications in all of Andalusia, reflecting the increasing role of women in the agricultural sector,» he added.
Likewise, Fernández-Pacheco recalled that the Ministry of Agriculture has made itself available to the sector to assist and has collaborated closely with Freshuelva in an exceptional authorization process with the Ministry of Agriculture for the control of nematodes and soil fungi. «A fundamental advancement for the sector that will allow continued production as usual,» he emphasized. He also mentioned the investments made in hydraulic infrastructure in the province, where a total of 27 supply and purification infrastructures have been completed for over 132 million euros in six years, with more than six ongoing projects (also for supply and purification) valued at over 20 million euros.
In this regard, he thanked the farmers for their efforts to focus on sustainability, quality, and internationalization despite the challenging international context and emphasized that, «thanks to these three key elements, we are positioned as leaders in red fruit exports internationally and are the Spanish community that produces and sells the most abroad.»
8 out of 10 euros from national sales
In this regard, he referred to the data from January to March 2025, when Andalusia exported over 120,000 tons of red fruits worth almost 641 million euros, translating to almost 8 out of 10 euros sold nationally and over 80% by weight.
Finally, the minister highlighted that «this congress places Andalusia on the international map and that, after ten years, it has established itself as an essential reference for a sector that is emblematic of innovation, sustainability, and economic development in Andalusia, and above all, has a bright future.»