The government provides irrigation water to farmers free of charge

The Minister emphasized that the consequences of the challenge caused by climate change must be mitigated with all possible means and that all possible means must be used to ensure that water reaches the landscape. The whole of Europe is struggling with drought, with 60 percent less water arriving in the Tisza riverbed and 40 percent less in the Danube, and there is no exclusive answer to the water shortage, unique solutions must be developed everywhere, he added. In regions with water shortages, it is urgent to find the best solutions in cooperation with farmers and water experts, but today Hungary no longer produces more water than it receives, he emphasized.

He said: according to forecasts, this year will be the hottest summer in Europe, so the government has created the drought protection operational corps as a precaution and has regrouped resources in order to fill all canals that once had water. The filling is underway at full speed, and although it is difficult to estimate this year’s prospects for now, the spring cereals have developed well, their yield averages are good, the sunflower is also holding up, but the corn is already damaged. Rain is badly needed, the cold front came just in time in the second half of the week, and perhaps precipitation may arrive at the end of next week.

He highlighted: due to the water shortage in agriculture, the government is now taking over the water fee from farmers in the amount of 10 billion forints, and has allocated an additional 4.7 billion forints for the repair of gutters, sluices, and pumps.

According to István Nagy, the size of irrigated areas has doubled in the past 3 years, currently 150 thousand hectares. Farmers received 176 billion forints for infrastructure replacement, and a tender worth 65 billion forints is currently open for them. Farming communities irrigate 104 thousand hectares.

The minister pointed out that the funds allocated for investments made it possible to transform temporary reservoirs into permanent ones and to complete the dredging of 259 kilometers of canals. Hungary can now store 3 billion cubic meters, or one and a half times the amount of water in Lake Balaton. The change in attitude is also supported by legal instruments, the Act on Irrigation Management stated that irrigation is a public interest and inland water is no longer the enemy, as it used to be, and it is accompanied by area-based support – said István Nagy.

Funds can also be requested for the creation of wetlands, agroforestry investments, and the establishment of forest protection strips. Many producers have offered their land, which is less suitable for economic cultivation, as wetlands, which shows that the farming community is committed to natural, long-term solutions, he added.