As France emerges from its driest winter since 1959, according to the government website Propluvia, drought “crisis” alerts are already active in four departmental effects, restricting the withdrawal of non-priority water – for agriculture. For.
Portugal is also experiencing the early arrival of drought. Nearly 90 percent of the mainland is suffering from drought, with severe drought affecting a fifth of the country – almost five times the area compared to a year ago.
In Spain, which received less than half the average rainfall in April this year, thousands of people depend on truck deliveries for drinking water, while regions including Catalonia have imposed water restrictions.
Agriculture groups have said some farmers have already reported crop losses of up to 80 percent, including in cereals and oilseeds.
“This is the worst crop loss in decades,” Pekka Pessonen, head of European agriculture group Coppa-Kogeka, said of Spain. “It’s worse than last year’s situation.”