The high temperatures have especially caused a severe drought that has caused serious damage to corn, sunflower and beet plantations.
All indicators show that this is a situation that is only getting worse. According to the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture, drought-damaged areas increase on several tens of thousands of hectares every week.
The meteorologist Anna Mráz does not see good prospects: “2022 has been the driest and hottest year in our historybut this year it is quite similar. This summer has been quite dry, which is reflected in the drying of the corn and the sunflower. Unfortunately, significant rainfall is not expected in the next period either, which is bad news for agriculture.”
Damage that is getting worse
Damage to the fields corn are estimated at at least 600 million euros. This year’s production is expected to drop from an average of eight to nine tonnes to less than five.
This is the umpteenth heat wave in a few weeks, and even if it rained now, it would not help the plants much, since they did not receive enough moisture during the flowering and seed formation period. Meteorologists expect the heat continue at least one more week.
The heat is expected to further damage crops who are already in difficulties, which predictably will raise the price of food.
Additional sources • Enrique Barrueco (Voice-over)
