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Beja is the capital of the homonymous district, in the interior south of the Portuguese state, region known as the Alentejo, has 25,024 inhabitants in its urban area . Its lands are watered by the Alqueva reservoir, which was inaugurated in 2002, and is the largest reservoir in Western Europe, located on the river Guadiana.
The construction of this reservoir, which has meant a true agricultural revolution for the entire south of Portugal, since its objective, in addition to the production of electricity, was the transformation of the adjoining lands into irrigation. Its storage capacity is 4,150 hm³ of water (a quantity that is equivalent to the supply needs of Lisbon for 40 years). The length, from the dam to the tail of the reservoir, is 83 km. Its maximum depth is 152 m. Its jagged coastline is 1,160 km long, an amount equivalent to the total Portuguese maritime coastline. The height of the dam is 96 m, 458 m long and 7 wide approximately.
To manage the assets of this project, the company EDIA(Development and Infra-Estruturas do Alqueva Company, S.A.). Its mission is to conceive, execute, build and exploit the Alqueva Multiple Purposes Investment (EFMA), contributing to the promotion of economic and social development in its intervention area, which includes 20 municipalities in the districts of Beja, Évora, Portalegre and Setubal. Its headquarters are located in Beja, the center of the beneficiary region, EDIA has an orientation strategy based on the priority axes of the use of the investment based on the «Water» resource and on the increase in production and profitability of the investments in the irrigation infrastructures created.
Spanish businessmen have seen business opportunities in the development of these lands, especially in the olive grove, fruit and nuts.
In the Alqueva area, today, the “fashionable” cultivation stands out: intensive and super-intensive olive groves. Crop that has developed resoundingly thanks to the irrigation infrastructures created for the use of the waters of the Alqueva reservoir. There are currently 120,000 hectares under irrigation, and 45,000 hectares under development for future irrigation. The types of farms are varied and the types of soils are very varied, adapting to many and varied uses: for olive groves, for almond trees, which are also booming; stone fruit trees; table grapes and wine, and lately, but to a lesser extent for red fruits.
Regarding the average price of the land, the hectare would currently be around 15,000 to 18,000 euros for irrigation. These are not exact values since it depends on the type of farm, soil, extension, location… We must highlight the great advantage over Spain in the price of water. There is a different price if the irrigation is by pressure or without pressure. The first year is not paid and then you start to pay 30%, which price increases year after year until the eighth year its price is 0.09 cents per cubic meter. Prices that in comparison with Spain are quantitatively much cheaper.
The availability of water from the Alqueva reservoir itself is also an excellent guarantee. The Alqueva reservoir has guaranteed water for four years in a drought situation.
The OVIBEJA fair was born in 1984, a time when nobody could imagine that irrigation would reach the lands of Beja. Its beginnings went through a sheep exhibition in a corner of the traditional Spring Fair. The ranchers joined with the aim of responding to some challenges of society and the agricultural sector of the time and also creating the association ACOS. This association, the same one that organizes every year what is already known as one of the largest agricultural fairs in the country, has come to increase and diversify its area of activity, adapting it to irrigated crops.
Every year there are more Spanish companies that attend this event, both as exhibitors and in the contests and auctions that are held. It is noteworthy that this year the 9th INTERNATIONAL EXTRA VIRGIN OIL COMPETITION was convened, awarding Spanish companies with two first prizes: ALMAZARA MOLERO MAZA (AGRO AVIA SL), ACEITES ORO BAILEN GALGON 99 SL MOLINO VIRGEN DE FATIMA SL, in the categories of MEDIUM FRUIT GREEN, FRUITY RIPE and FUTURE INTENSE GREEN respectively. My most sincere congratulations to all of them!
As for the Spanish exhibitors, the following stood out: The agricultural services companies AGROPLANTEX (services for planting and harvesting), CAPILLA FMA (manufacturer of agricultural machinery), LOPEZ GARRIDO (agricultural machinery), OSUNA SEVILLANO (sprayers), TEYME (sprayers).
Although it is noteworthy that in the first days of the fair the adverse weather did not accompany a large number of visitors to the field dedicated to agricultural machinery, in the last 3 days the number of visitors was In progressive increase since the wind stopped blowing, and shyly the sun shone. The enclosure is well designed and distributed, with plenty of space for exhibitors. The ground was level and the grass had been mowed, unfortunately the rain marred the event and produced uncomfortable mud for wandering visitors.
