The dangerous drought in Europe also affects crops in Bulgaria
A dangerous drought affecting the whole of Europe, including Bulgaria, endangers crops and creates a risk of forest fires, the Joint Research Center of the EU announced.
In response to BTA’s question from the belt center, according to data from the European Drought Observatory for Bulgaria for a ten-day period in July and August, there are dangerous values between 2 percent and 6 percent and warnings ranging from 20 percent to 32 percent for dangerous phenomena.
According to the analysis by specialists from the Joint Research Center, the ongoing drought in August puts 47 percent of the EU territory under a harvest warning. Soils are dry and 17 percent of the EU is worried.
A total of 64 percent of the European territory is under alarm or in a state of crisis due to the loss of rainfall and drought, which is also due to the spread of forest fires.
“The combination of severe drought and heatwaves is putting water levels across the European Union under unprecedented stress,” Maria Gabriel, EU commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth, said in a statement. In it, she emphasizes that forest fires this season are significantly above average and a serious impact on agricultural production is noted.
“Without a doubt, climate change is more noticeable this year. The European Commission and its researchers are working tirelessly to identify and investigate the crisis with the best available technologies – from space and on Earth, and we are at the forefront of efforts to protect nature and our citizens from emergencies,” Gabriel pointed out.
The Joint Research Centre’s forecast for average crop levels in the EU this year shows 16 per cent lower maize yields, 15 per cent lower soybean yields and 12 per cent lower sunflower yields.
Drought has affected almost all rivers in Europe, affecting both energy and river transport. In some European countries, measures are being taken to limit water consumption, notes the Joint Research Center.