The country’s water retention capacity will improve significantly

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Imre Hubai stated that the most effective method of drought protection in Hungary is water retention, so the government is emphasizing increasing this, and is helping farmers and agricultural communities with various subsidies. According to his explanation, the size of the agricultural areas that can be irrigated will increase significantly in the coming period – this year – thanks to government subsidies, and within two to three years, artificial water supply can be ensured on approximately 400-500 thousand hectares, according to the cabinet’s goals – he stated.

The State Secretary reminded that developments related to water retention and water withdrawal in agriculture have already begun in recent years

In many places, technical equipment has been modernized and flood-retaining reservoirs have been created, thanks to which about 200 million cubic meters of precipitation can be retained and used in Hungary this year. In a year, this number will be one and a half billion cubic meters and by the end of next year it could reach three billion cubic meters, which corresponds to the amount of water equivalent to one and a half tons of Lake Balaton, and which can be retained on the 1.2 million hectares most affected by the drought – the State Secretary highlighted. Currently, there is potential for irrigation on about 120 thousand hectares, and farmers actually irrigate 80-90 thousand hectares per year, but thanks to the developments taking place in the current and next years, water replenishment and irrigation can be carried out many times over – the State Secretary said. The tenders, for which the government provides funds to the agricultural sector, serve the renovation of water retention works, increasing their throughput capacity, canal excavations, expansions, the creation of new water withdrawal points and new water supply routes, he added. He drew attention to the fact that they would also like to encourage cooperation between farmers, as this type of farming method is more efficient and sustainable by sharing the costs related to water retention and irrigation. When asked how serious drought damage can be expected this year, and whether the damage resulting from the 2022 drought could be repeated, the State Secretary said that the situation is currently somewhat better than two years ago. Barley and rapeseed are already being harvested, and winter wheat will soon be harvested, so “the country’s bread grain is not in danger,” he said, adding that at the same time “sunflowers and corn are particularly endangered,” and that there is a great need for water in orchards.

The fate of sunflowers and corn in non-irrigated areas may be decided in the coming days, and a meager harvest is expected in areas affected by drought

As a guest on Kossuth Radio’s Good morning, Hungary! program, Imre Hubai spoke about a recent drought protection exercise held in the Great Plain, which showed that the Hungarian water management was prepared to compensate for the water shortage in the areas that could be considered from surface watercourses. He drew attention to the fact that according to the government’s intentions, not only farmers but also society are increasingly partners in increasing the country’s irrigation and water replenishment potential, and there are technologies and the opportunities provided by nature with the rivers flowing through the country to replace the missing water. The maintenance, filling and development of the canals, the expansion and expansion of the water network, the significant expansion of the restoration capacity and the development of the reservoir are among the tasks of the coming months and years, he emphasized.

MTI