Unicaja has granted funding to the Villadangos Canal Irrigation Community to help modernise the irrigation systems on its farms. The project will benefit more than 1,300 farmers in the Órbigo and Páramo regions of León and will pave the way for a more efficient and sustainable use of water.
The bank has provided the necessary loans and guarantees to finance the portion of the investment attributable to the Irrigation Community. Furthermore, it will make financing solutions available to farmers to adapt their facilities to the new system once the general infrastructure has been completed.
The collaboration was announced during a meeting held in Villadangos del Páramo (León) between Unicaja’s North-West Regional Director, Manuel Rubio, and the President of the Villadangos Canal Irrigation Community, Serafín Pérez. The meeting was also attended by the President of its Governing Board, Luis Javier Jáñez, and the other members of that body. Also present on behalf of Unicaja were José Maria García, director for the León East and Palencia area; Fernando Fernández, manager of the Unicaja branch; and Angel María Castro, agricultural and livestock manager.
Manuel Rubio highlighted the importance of the project for the future of farms in the area. “This initiative represents an opportunity to improve efficiency, incorporate new technological solutions and move towards more sustainable agriculture. At Unicaja, we want to support both the Irrigation Community and individual farmers, providing them with the resources they may need to undertake this investment.”
He also emphasised “Unicaja’s ties with the province of León and its agricultural sector, which plays an essential role in the region’s economic activity, employment and social development”.
Financing solutions to modernise facilities
Unicaja has provided loans totalling 23.74 million and guarantees worth 21.6 million euros to finance the Irrigation Community’s contribution to the works. The project involves a total investment of 90 million euros and is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the EAFRD and the Irrigation Community itself, with funding from Unicaja.
The project is being carried out in coordination with the Regional Government of Castile and León, through the Castile and León Agricultural Technology Institute (Itacyl).
In addition to this funding, Unicaja will offer farmers solutions to enable them to undertake the necessary investments on their plots. These include the installation of underground pipes, pivot systems and other equipment required for the new infrastructure.
A more efficient and flexible irrigation system
The Villadangos Canal Irrigation Community manages the irrigation of 6,023 hectares belonging to 2,374 landowners and has more than 1,300 irrigators in the Órbigo and Páramo de León regions.
The introduction of the new system will replace the current irrigation via open channels with a network of underground pipes, featuring hydrants at the edge of each plot and an on-demand irrigation system that can be managed via mobile devices.
The modernisation will help to make better use of water, reduce costs, improve farm yields and facilitate crop diversification. It will also simplify some of the farmers’ daily tasks.
The works will be carried out in two phases and will involve a total investment of 90 million euros.
Unicaja is committed to the sustainable growth of the sector
Unicaja maintains a specific support programme for the agricultural sector, with solutions designed to meet the financing, investment and modernisation needs of farmers and livestock breeders.
The bank considers this sector a priority in Castile and León due to its contribution to economic activity and the development of rural areas. The introduction of technology and improvements to infrastructure can help to boost productivity, reduce environmental impact and support the long-term viability of farms.
Sustainability forms part of Unicaja’s 2025–2027 Strategic Plan and its corporate strategy. In this context, the bank promotes financing solutions designed to support its customers through their transformation processes and to facilitate investments that contribute to a more efficient and sustainable economy.
