The news portal OTP Agrár has reported this week that, based on the recommendation of the National Chamber of Agriculture (NAK) together with farmers' association MAGOSZ, the Ministry of Interior has declared a "prolonged period of water scarcity."
In a declared prolonged period of water scarcity, it is possible for farmers to use water for irrigation purposes without a water permit for up to 30 days, requiring only a farmer's notification. Additionally, the water resource contribution fee is also waived.
Extraordinary irrigation water use is defined as the extraction of up to 120 mm/hectare (1200 m³/hectare) of water directly from surface water sources using temporary pump stations for irrigation purposes on an area not exceeding 100 hectares, for a maximum continuous duration of one month.
The portal adds that although the rains in the turning of April and May helped, and the Pentecost weekend in May also saw heavy rainfall, based on data of the National Meteorological Service and farmers' reports, most of the soils in the country are now affected by drought. The authorities also considered that in the past year, Europe saw new historical heat records and that this year, also, a long, hot and dry summer can be expected.
Read more at agroberichtenbuitenland.nl