The Páramo Canal Irrigation Community (popularly known as Páramo Alto) was established on May 27, 1953 by Ministerial Order. It dominates just over 17,000 hectares spread over 29 locations (Acebes del Páramo, Antoñanes del Páramo, Azares del Páramo, Bercianos del Páramo, Bustillo del Páramo, Fontecha del Páramo, Grisuela del Páramo, Huerga de Frailes, La Mata del Páramo, Laguna Dalga, La Milla del Páramo, Mansilla del Páramo, Matalobos del Páramo, San Martín del Camino, San Pedro Bercianos, San Pedro de las Dueñas, Santa Cristina del Páramo, Santa Marina del Rey, Santa Marinica, Soguillo del Páramo, Urdiales del Páramo, Valdefuentes del Páramo, Valdesandinas, Villar del Yermo, Villarrín del Páramo, Villavante, Villazala and Zuares del Páramo).
At this time it is facing a historical event for the entity, to be able to bring pressure irrigation to all its plots, the so-called modernization of irrigation, a transformation in which practically the entire 21st century has been involved.
At present, the modernization works of its last two irrigation sectors (IV and VI) are already awarded with an investment of close to 30 million euros in which the Government of Spain participates through Seiasa (Sociedad Estatal de Infraestructuras Agrarias) and the Junta de Castilla y León through Itacyl (Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León). Some 3,500 hectares distributed between the towns of Bustillo del Páramo, Matalobos del Páramo, Grisuela del Páramo and La Milla del Páramo will be affected. The works include, in addition to the pressure pipes themselves, all the necessary auxiliary services such as pumping stations, ponds, pipelines …
With this investment, pressure irrigation will be completed in its more than 17,000 hectares, a goal achieved.
And it is that modernization is the future for irrigation, mainly because it allows a very important saving of a scarce good such as water, of which the Barrios de Luna reservoir is in deficit to meet the demand of its associated irrigators. Thus, modernization contributes to a more efficient use of water, a greater respect for the environment, an improvement in the quality of life of farmers, higher productions, a more rational use of fertilizers …, in short, to an agriculture more viable and sustainable. The agriculture of the new millennium.
– .
