"The sector is on the edge regarding available and usable water supplies. All cultivations, from potatoes, to vegetables for the processing industry to fresh market cultivation are all suffering from the drought and extreme temperatures. Water is in huge demand, but most of all we need rain. Every day that this drought lasts is costing our growers their production. This is one of the most extreme and dry period of the last forty years. If no rain comes this will cost production over the coming months. There is more and more talk these days about food waste, and the curved cucumber keeps coming into the picture. Know that this is marginal compared to the efforts that the producers are making at the moment to prevent massive food losses due to the drought," says Paul Demyttenaere, director of the REO Veiling in West Flanders.
Not visible yet
He continues: "The drought and extreme heat has caused damage, although it isn't yet visible. What is being supplied at the auction at the moment is in line with expectations. The influence of the heat can be seen on certain products, including in cauliflower. If this drought continues we will really notice it in the fall productions. Right now is the time for planting leek. If it stays dry they will struggle to grow and the autumn production will suffer. The extent of the impact will differ by product. The stores of water in greenhouse production are also particularly small."
Respect
Last week Paul Demyttenaere called for respect for the growers. "I have a lot of admiration for our 1,200 active producers. I see these people every day and they work very hard to harvest the products and bring them on the market. It's clear they work day and night in any weather. They look more tired every day! Consumers should know how much effort and labour goes into getting daily fresh products onto the supermarket shelves in these conditions."
Thinking in solutions
Besides this aspect Paul also asked whether the policy makers could take a wider view of the possibilities that there are for growers and not go into what isn't possible in water supplies too much. Of course we respect certain choices that are made in the area of regulations, but we would like to see decisions looked at through the eyes of the grower. I hope the government want to think more in solutions and we ask for understanding of the current circumstances. The fact is that our producers need water."
Industry vegetables- Bernard Haspeslagh
There are rough estimates for the vegetables grown for the industry. Bernard Haspeslagh, president of Vegebe, told VTM news that around a third of the cauliflower harvest has been lost and 30% of the pea harvest. He expects it will have little influence in price, as the is enough harvest in other European countries.
Potatoes
The potato sector is also struggling. The early potatoes are suffering. Last week there was talk of a loss of almost 15 million Euro. This will have likely increased in the week that followed. Romain Cools of Belgapom already spoke of his concern in an article.
Dry throughout Europe
The drought isn't just in Flander, it is extremely dry throughout Europe. Last week we published a number of maps from the KNMI which clearly shows that there is less rain than average throughout Europe. It is clear to see that the Netherlands and Flanders are very affected. There is also a shortage in precipitation in parts of Spain and Italy.
Structural shortage
Flanders has structurally too little ground water for multiple reasons, Vilt reports in an article. The amount of groundwater per capita in Flanders and Brussels is the second lowest in Europe. There are also few large waterways, that have been straightened in the past to carry rainwater off to the sea more quickly.