News Drought 2018
Subsidizing irrigation in Germany
The German state of Bavaria is investing extra money in improving the drinking water supply and irrigation options for farmers. The local government is making €9 million available for this. It hopes that the national government will also subsidize irrigation options.
The plans come from CSU minister Marcel Huber, who is responsible for the environment. The local government wants to invest around €2019 million from 9. On the one hand to make Bavaria more resistant to climate change and on the other to improve the drinking water supply and possibilities for irrigation to improve. If it is up to Huber, Bavaria will become a model region for agriculture.
Irrigation network
An example of the measures is the construction and expansion of pipelines for the drinking water supply. The plans previously stretched until 2025, but Huber wants to extend that to 2035. In this way he can show that they really look at the long term.
For the agricultural sector, he is joining forces with the Bavarian Ministry of Agriculture. For example, farmers should be helped by a subsidy for new water-saving techniques for irrigation. The government will also examine whether it can contribute to the development of an irrigation network.
The public service 'Hochwasser-Dienst' is particularly known to farmers and citizens. The much less well-known 'Niedrigwasser-Dienst' must also be expanded, so that in times of drought can be switched quickly. Farmers can also come here for advice.
buffer
A few decades ago, the 'Fränkischen Seenplatte' was created, a lake that is filled with water from the Main-Danube Canal. It can provide extra water, especially in northern Bavaria. If it is up to Huber, there will be more buffer capacity for drinking and irrigation water.
Niels van der Boom
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