Tenerife will receive €2.5 million to support the rural economy

Jaime Hernández-Abad is in charge of a program launched to help solve population problems. This program operates under the leadership of the President and targets 74,000 residents of Tenerife (8% of the total population). It covers towns such as Arafo, Arico, Buenavista del Norte, Fasnia, Garachico, La Guancha, La Matanza, San Juan de la Rambla, El Sauzal, Los Silos, El Tanque, La Victoria, and Vilaflor de Chasna.

Hernández-Abad explains that each of these local councils can propose three projects per year, and the program will finance them. Up to €15,000 is allocated to each project, meaning that each town receives an average of around €40,000. In total, just over half a million euros has been allocated to this. Across all the Canary Islands, 125 events are planned, 40 of which are on Tenerife. A total of €2.5 million will be allocated to all of this in 2025.

According to the coordinator, the main idea is to help the local economy and create jobs so that people do not leave their hometowns. The organization Gestión del Mundo Rural (GMR) is implementing this project together with the Canarian Federation of Municipalities (FECAM), headed by the mayor of Candelaria, Mari Brito, and local councils.

Hernández-Abad says that they choose activities related to local products, gastronomy, agriculture, and also help farmers' markets and training. For example, a tapas fair has already been held in El Sauzal, Gastrofest Arafo, "White Night" with Minichef in Los Silos, Vilaflor Sostenibe, the "La Guancha in a Thousand Flavors" festival, and the Brindis Lustral de Garachico celebration. Hernández-Abad hopes that this idea, which is new this year, will continue in the future, as it helps towns develop, sell local products, and support the economy of each of them.

Dinamiza Rural is part of the Canary Islands' Strategy for Demographic Challenges, which aims to help stop the extinction of villages and economic instability. Many of the 46 towns in the Canary Islands with fewer than 10,000 people have similar problems: an aging population, the closure of essential services, a weak economy, lack of internet access, and remoteness.

Therefore, Dinamiza Rural is betting on integrated development, which began in May last year and will continue until the end of the year. This strategy has five main areas: the 2030 Agenda, Responsible Islands, Innovation in Migration Management, Social Innovation, and Dinamiza Rural.

The Minister of Agriculture, Narvay Quintero, emphasizes that Dinamiza Rural helps to develop agriculture, attract young people, and develop the economy in towns. He adds that the revival of villages is an opportunity to live with dignity and have stable jobs locally.

The Government of the Canary Islands is trying to solve population problems and is proposing a new development model where villages will become a place for social, economic, and cultural innovation. The result will be the 1st Congress on Demographic Challenges, which will take place on October 2 and 3 in Gáldar. Initiatives such as Dinamiza Rural help to overcome these challenges.