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Romanian farmers in areas suitable for irrigation will have access to water earlier this year than in other years, given that there was a dearth of rainfall over the winter, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Adrian Chesnoiu said on Wednesday.
"We have taken all the necessary steps to make sure that farmers in areas suitable for irrigation have access to water earlier than in previous years, given that over the winter we faced a dearth of rainfall. As early as March 19, we started the systems and filled the canals with water in Timis County and will do the same in all areas of the country where farmers have requested the supply of water for irrigation," Chesnoiu said in a social media post.
According to Chesnoiu, Romania's land improvement infrastructure is ready for operation and can sustain an optimal water level for a potentially irrigable area of 1,289,381 ha.
"We continue support measures by providing free pumped water to the main irrigation infrastructure and covering up to 50% of the electricity bills for the operation of farmers' facilities and equipment. We are also continuing to modernise the irrigation infrastructure, because we aim to increase the area suitable for irrigation to two million hectares."
Chesnoiu added that local data indicate that as of now cereal growing is good in most of the cereal basins. "We are constantly monitoring the situation of crops and we are ready to take action if the situation requires it," Chesnoiu said.
