An irrigation project that is outstanding at a European level was implemented in Mezőfalva

The installation of an underground agricultural micro-irrigation system has been completed on approximately 330 hectares in Mezőfalva, Fejér County. As part of the development, special drip pipes were installed in the soil, which deliver water and nutrients directly to the root zone of the plants. Corn, poppy seeds and autumn cereals will be grown in the area with the new technology.

The closed system consisting of main lines, wing lines and drip pipes eliminates the typical losses of surface irrigation: evaporation, water runoff and crop burning, and also reduces the risk of weed growth and fungal diseases. Depending on local conditions, the system can thus enable water savings of up to 30–50% compared to traditional solutions. Such an extensive subsurface arable drip system is only in operation in a few places in Europe, so the Mezőfalvi project is considered a pioneer on a continental scale.

The development is being driven by the increasingly severe drought situation due to climate change. According to HungaroMet data, the temporal distribution of precipitation in Hungary is becoming increasingly extreme: long, low-precipitation periods are coupled with atmospheric drought and seriously threaten crop security.

The project is also examining the long-term economic and ecological benefits of the system – the first measurement results are expected in 2026, and based on international experience, the yield could be significantly higher compared to traditional irrigation.

“Due to climate change, water has now become a strategic resource in arable crop production as well. Irrigation is not enough, modern solutions are needed that simultaneously help to use water efficiently and stabilize production”

– said Tibor Fotyék, Irrigation Business Manager of Pipelife Hungária Kft.

“At Pipelife, we are working to ensure that farmers do not leave their average yield to the weather with our irrigation solutions based on the most modern pipe systems and our professional support from design to operation”
– he added.

The Mezőfalvi project is not only a large-scale investment, but also represents a novel approach to domestic arable farming. The successful operation of precision irrigation systems requires careful planning and consistent implementation, and the professional support of Pipelife Hungária Kft. therefore extends to the continuous operation of the system and the monitoring of the achieved results even after installation.