The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco, announced in Huelva that the Junta de Andalucía is ready to sign the protocol to assume 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 unlock 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 Huelva Red Berry Congress, he also announced that Andalucía will advocate in Brussels to strengthen 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 Andalucía, 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 emphasize the importance of regions having weight and a voice in European agricultural policy that, he said, must adapt 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 Andalucía, «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 berry sector, backed by very good export figures. In 2024, it sold almost 329,000 tons abroad for more than 1.5 billion euros, 138 million more than in 2023.
And all this, the minister said, despite the numerous challenges facing the sector, including defending quality, competitiveness against third countries, the need for more technology to be more profitable, and the trade war across the Atlantic,» he stressed.
Over 40 million for OPFH in the province of Huelva
Fernández-Pacheco pointed out 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 to innovate, improve processes, and remain a benchmark for competitiveness». In the province of Huelva alone, the 31 entities – 29 of which trade in red berries – received over 40 million euros for their operational programs in 2024, representing 27.6% of all of Andalucía.
He also referred to the Junta’s support for generational turnover with aid for young farmers and breeders, with 272 applications registered in the province of Huelva, nearly half of which are women, «a fact that makes Huelva the province with the most female applications in all of Andalucía, 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 help the sector and has collaborated closely with Freshuelva in an exceptional authorization process with the Ministry of Agriculture for the control of soil nematodes and fungi. «A fundamental advance for the sector that will allow it to continue producing normally,» he added. He also mentioned the investments made in hydraulic infrastructure in the province, where a total of 27 supply and purification infrastructures have been built for over 132 million euros in six years, and there are currently more than six works (also for supply and purification) being carried out for more than 20 million euros.
In this regard, he thanked the farmers for their efforts to promote sustainability, quality, and internationalization despite the challenging international context and emphasized that, «thanks to these three key ingredients, we position ourselves as leaders in the international red berry export market and are the Spanish community that produces and sells the most abroad.»
8 out of every 10 euros of national sales
Regarding the data from January to March 2025, during which more than 120,000 tons of red berries were exported from Andalucía for almost 641 million euros, translating to nearly 8 out of every 10 euros sold nationally and over 80% of the weight.
Finally, the minister highlighted that «this congress places Andalucía 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 Andalucía, and above all, has a promising future.»
