Sources say the Spanish government plans to spend 2.19 billion euros ($2.4 billion) on new water supplies, subsidies, and direct aid to farmers. The aid has become necessary to alleviate a prolonged and worsening drought.
On May 11, Environment Minister Teresa Ribera stated that her ministry would spend 1.4 billion euros to build new infrastructure such as desalination plants, double the reuse of urban water and reduce the fees and tariffs of affected farms. The Agriculture Ministry will provide an additional 784 million euros to support agricultural production in a country that is Europe's primary exporter of fruit and vegetables and to alleviate the burden on farmers from the drought and rising costs.
Source: reuters.com