Farmers are close to despair due to water shortage

Friday 16 June suggested West Flemish Governor Carl Decaluwé imposed a captation ban (water withdrawal ban) for the region around Poperinge and Ypres. This is the first ban in 20 years. This concerns the extraction of surface water for irrigation of crops. However, this is not an irrigation ban. Growers who have a source may still use it. Citizens are urged by the local government to use water sparingly, so do not wash cars or water the lawn.

Water ban until June 30
The capture ban applies until June 30, writes Farmers' Union. However, it is unlikely that the water supplies will have been replenished by then. Irrigation from wells remains possible and drinking water for animals may also be extracted. However, different rules apply per municipality. Non-navigable waterways remain available for irrigation, up to a volume of 500 cubic meters per year.

Ban falls on deaf ears
Farmers in the affected region, the coastal region of Belgium (near France), are ignoring the ban. The Belgian media makes notification of dozens of growers who ignore a fine of several hundred euros for drying out their crops. A movie even shows that manure tanks are stuck in traffic jams to get a tank of water.

In addition to many potatoes, the region also has extensive vegetable cultivation. This "vegetable garden of Flanders" needs irrigation for all crops. That is now being taken away from her. Artifices are used to obtain water. This means that tanks even cross the border to fetch water in France.

The precipitation sum up to and including June 18. In the Belgian coastal region the total does not exceed 10 millimeters.

Fear of salinization
According to the authorities, and also farmer organizations, the problems are not only short-term. If people continue to pump (illegal) water, the salty groundwater will come to the surface. This makes freshwater brackish. This does not benefit agriculture either. According to the West Flemish Knowledge Center, 18 buffer basins are available for irrigation, but supplies are dwindling very quickly.

Rain can save little
Farmer Johan Vanysacker calls the prolonged drought is a disaster for farmers. His own well only lasts a few days. 'For cauliflower and peas, for example, now is a crucial period. If the crops do not receive enough water, the situation becomes dramatic. If we get rain next week, we can save some crops.'

June ends dry
At the end of this week, temperatures will drop to levels around 20 degrees in West Flanders and Northern France. Rain is not forecast until early next week, from June 26. However, this does not amount to more than a few millimeters. That is too little to be of great significance for the crops. The only advantage is that the temperatures, even at night, are considerably lower. Weather maps now show a total precipitation sum between 0 and 12 millimeters in the coastal region of Belgium. There will probably be little addition in June.

And in the Netherlands?
It is also dry in the Netherlands. Very dry. Where 40 millimeters of water recently fell in Flevoland, irrigation reels are now running everywhere again. Carrots still need to be sown in Zeeland Flanders. This is not possible without irrigation. This option is not available everywhere, although the situation is less bad than with our southern neighbors. In the Hoeksche Waard, (ZH), places the water board an emergency pump to maintain the level of polder ditches.

Update 20-6:
A Flemish grower in West Flanders reports that the capture ban has now been extended and covers all surface water. Previously, pumping was still allowed from reservoirs and non-navigable waters. Companies that have their own basin or well may use them. Water may be pumped for animals.

Cover photo: Rogier Loos (@rogierloos1974).

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