The Behemendi Rural Development Association of Donostialdea and Bidasoa, in collaboration with the City Council of Astigarraga, has launched a call for those who wish to engage in professional horticulture to offer a municipal plot in exchange for a symbolic rental for those who wish to start in the sector. The initiative is part of the project “Green Employment” launched four years ago by the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa.
“There are few agricultural lands in our valley, let alone those that can be made in the garden.” Mikel Zendoia, a member of Laskarai Behemendi, explains that many of these agricultural lands are privately owned, and that these owners do not usually want to leave the apartments for several years. “Whoever wants to make an ecological horticulture has to make a number of investments, and to do so we have to offer the rent of the land for a few years,” he says. However, obtaining these incomes in the medium and long term is difficult.
To cope with this difficulty, the offer of the plot has been launched. One of the ways for young people to start farming is, according to the promoters, the supply of public land. The land, about 9,500 square meters, has been equipped with the necessary infrastructures: the entrance, the caset where the openings are stored and the water reservoir that has been installed by surveys. “If it contains water and soil. From there, the investments must be made by the person who manages the land”.
The member of Behemendi has stressed that the call is open to everyone, even if the land offered is in Astigarraga. The main requirement is that the ecological horticulture that is to be developed in the area be professional, the occupation of those who occupy the ground. For the award of the plot several aspects will be taken into account: “Priority will be given to young people, people with training and agricultural experience or women. Being from Astigarraga has a supplement, although it is not necessary.”
They do not want land rent to be an obstacle, so they will have a symbolic income. Applications can be made until 15 May in Behemendi. Zendoia has encouraged interested parties to sign up for the draw, as, in addition to that of Astigarraga, it is expected that later there will be more offers of land at other points.