A minimum increase for water bills in the agriculture sector

Water Secretary Humberto Cholango promised to the representatives of the coastal water boards during a meeting on Tuesday: the increase in the cost of water bill will be minimal for farmers.

On May 23, a day before the presidential inauguration, the National Water Secretariat (Senagua) increased the value of the cubic meter of water by about 7,000%. Boards that previously paid $ 3,600 were forced to pay $ 260,000 per year.

“The Secretary of Water has promised us that the increase will be minimal,” said Rómulo Alcívar, vice president of the Association of Irrigation Boards of Ecuador (Aejur).

In addition to the claims of small farmers, the mayor of Guayaquil Jaime Nebot criticized the impact this will have on industries, tourism and the final consumer, making the products more expensive. The Biodiversity Commission of the Legislature summoned Water Secretary Humberto Cholango to explain the new agreement for its analysis. (I)