According to the agricultural entity, thieves are stealing materials with high value in the illegal market, such as copper, batteries, electrical wiring, water extraction pumps, and electronic equipment. Thefts of fuel stored in these facilities have also been detected, further exacerbating the economic damage to affected farmers.
The problem, warns AVA-ASAJA, is not limited to the cost of replacing stolen material or repairing damage to the wells. The paralysis of irrigation systems can have direct consequences on harvests, especially during delicate moments of crop cycles, when a prolonged breakdown can compromise production.
“"These are criminal groups that come with machinery and are prepared, with angle grinders and tools to commit the crime; this is not a matter of getting in and out in two minutes."
A farmer from Montroi has estimated losses of around 15,000 euros after the theft of the transformer and wiring from his irrigation well, which was completely stripped. This testimony reflects the growing concern in the Valencian rural environment about thefts that, according to farmers, are not improvised actions but rather planned operations to steal specific high-value elements and cause extensive damage to agricultural facilities.
Given this situation, AVA-ASAJA recommends that farmers install security devices in wells, sheds, and irrigation infrastructure. The organization believes that these systems can act as a deterrent by increasing the difficulty, risk, and cost of committing thefts.
The agricultural organization has also demanded effective enforcement of the law in rural areas following the entry into force of the modification of the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Law to toughen penalties for thefts in agricultural and livestock farms and strengthen the response to repeat offenses. According to AVA-ASAJA estimates, thefts in the agricultural sector of the Valencian Community cause losses of nearly 30 million euros each year.
