According to experts, about half of the territory of the European Union is currently threatened by drought. Italy was particularly hard hit. The EU expects a sharp decline in the harvest in a number of Member States, the drought is expected to last until September.
The European Commission released a report from its research center on the July drought on Monday, which found that 46 percent of EU territory was “at risk” of drought. Another 11 percent of the area is already on alert due to a lack of rain, affecting vegetation and crops.
“Declining crop yields”
“France, Romania, Spain, Portugal and Italy are likely to experience a drop in crop yields,” said the experts on behalf of the EU commission. But Germany, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia are also “affected to some extent”. The drought is therefore strongest in the northern Italian Po basin.
In their report, the experts speak of a “breathtaking” development. If the drought forecast continues through September, the impact on agriculture, water supply and hydropower generation would be even greater.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
