- The Alavesa Plain is very alive. Small producers have launched several projects to transform their products, the latest known as Okiturri. They feature a legume washing area, a small chicken slaughterhouse, a rape and sunflower oil processing area and a small flour mill in the collective processing area. In the pavilion of the Town Hall of San Millán, producers of different activities have gathered together, with the collaboration and collaboration of the Rural Development Association of the Llanada. Technician Arantza Arrien Goitiandia stressed that producers are always the drivers of the project: “We help.”
“The Rural Development Association plans for five years and in its day we survey to identify the needs of producers in the region,” explains Arrien. In this work, the producers manifested the need for spaces for the transformation of their products and clarified their involvement in the implementation of these infrastructures. “We also passed the questionnaire to the municipalities, we asked if they had premises to implement projects of transformation and willingness to get involved in management.” Among the replies received, the appropriate place for the establishment of the processing area was the pavilion of the City Hall of San Millán, which, after obtaining the transfer of the area by agreement, was launched.
In January 2019 began the first project of the area, that of legumes. “Five legume producers got together and bought the washing machine thanks to the help of the Council. This machine is nothing from the other world, but it is expensive for a single producer to buy it,” he explains. The legume producers set up the Lautadako Lekaleak association to set this space in motion, which is managed by the producers and the municipality.
Not only in collaboration
Last year the members of the Ekiolio project met. A rapeseed and sunflower juice machine was purchased to produce oil and, in addition, to take advantage of the solid surpluses generated in the process, there is treatment with the farmers in the area. At the same time, chicken producers in the region met to respond to the vacuum of a small slaughterhouse. The small chicken slaughterhouse has been set in motion this year thanks to aid and putting part of its pocket. “An Italian company was bought a small module and in the Llanada they have created a cooperative for its management called Bertan.”
Finally, the flour project is incorporated into the project. The Garapen association was working on a cooperation project on flour and has installed a small mill in the area. At the moment, producers and bakers can use them as a test to test meal. Looking ahead, Arrien has advanced that they also have more collective projects in hand: “Having one’s own machinery is often not viable, and in the face of relief things are simplified. And also, making better use of public money.”