Lleida is at the centre of a new plan for the Urgell Canal, after the Catalan government and the canal board agreed to move ahead with modernisation based on local demand. The change means the project no longer depends on 100% consensus from irrigators.
The first phase would cover about 12,000 hectares across 14 municipalities in the Noguera, Urgell, Garrigues, Pla d'Urgell and Segrià areas. Agriculture minister Òscar Ordeig said on Friday that the government wants to move ahead and show irrigators that modernisation works and can improve farm income. The first projects could be operational by 2028.
The new approach follows the postponement of a vote on a three-way funding agreement involving the Catalan government, the Spanish state and irrigators. That vote was delayed indefinitely in December after most communities opposed it, with the cost of farm equipment among the main concerns.
The Governing Board of the Central Community of Irrigators of the Urgell Canals (CCRCU) has now approved a voluntary model. Farmers who do not want to modernise will not be forced to do so and can keep using flood irrigation. The government and irrigators will also look at land consolidation options across the area, adapted to local conditions.
Two formal requests have already been received, covering four communities. One project for community 1 has more than 80% support and would affect about 5,055 hectares in seven municipalities in Noguera and Urgell. Another, for communities 17, 18 and 19, has 50% support and would cover 5,754 hectares in seven municipalities in Garrigues, Pla d'Urgell and Segrià.
The government says funding is in place to start drawing up projects once they are defined and approved. The Urgell Canals, the oldest and most extensive irrigation system in Catalonia, cover more than 70,000 hectares. In September 2025, the government presented a 15-year, €1 billion modernisation plan. More Catalonia news