Toulouse and Haute Garonne. The FDSEA 31 farmers’ union is sounding the alarm in the face of drought
By Alexandra Frenkel
Published on
While heat wave and the drought rage at Toulouse and in Upper Garonne, farmers bear the brunt of these climatic hazards. The water use restrictions announced concern not only individuals, professionals, communities, but also and above all farmers.
Monday 1uh August 2022, Christiane Lambertpresident of the FNSEA, announced at the microphone of BFM Business “historic losses for France estimated at 1 billion euros“. The crops of corn, sunflower, vinesbut also thebreeding are affected by drought. In Haute-Garonne, “the observation is the same for farmers”, says Jean-Francois LamassePresident of the FDSEA of Haute-Garonne and administrator of the General Association of Wheat Producers.
Restrictions on water use among farmers in Haute-Garonne
Since the establishment of water use restrictions by the prefecture of Haute-Garonne, Tuesday, August 9, 2022, the farmers of the department must adapt. According to the zones, they must stop watering their fields one or two days a week.
The levy in the underground water sources is also subject to restrictions. « the beginning Since the summer, on a eu a single stormwhereas usually, we already have three or four at this time of year”, laments the president of the FDSEA 31.
The anger of farmers and herders
The drought is becoming more frequent and early. ” It makes since May that we feel the effects of these climatic hazards on the harvests, says Jean-François Lamassé. The corn crops are the most paid. The spring crops are currently at three quarters of their cycle.
Yield drops between 30% and 40% in the department are to be expected. Undeniably, wheat prices will increase even if “without the drought, prices will still increase, because of the war in ukraine and some economic crisis in particular,” says the farmer.
Possible solutions?
“It’s been over thirty years that we ask the authorities to make water reserves”, annoys the president of the FDSEA of Haute-Garonne. Every year, we warn that there will be a lack of water. »
“Every winter, we have water that is wasted, this water should be recovered to compensate for the lack in spring and summer.”
A meeting should take place soon between the FDSEA 31 and the Prefecture to discuss the issue.
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