Drought in the Netherlands: how do we tackle it?

In 2018 and in 2019, the effects of drought will be keenly felt in many areas - and thus also in Limburg. Drought is a serious threat to farmer and nature. That is why the Ministry of LNV took a number of measures in early July to combat the consequences of drought. The goal of the LNV is to be well prepared in the short and long term for extreme weather situations for agriculture and nature, such as drought or wetness.

Maaike van Moolhuijsen and Kees van Drunen, experts at the LNV, talk about the consequences of drought for Dutch nature and farmers. Maaike: "Drought and Dutch nature do not go well together. Our country is designed to drain water as quickly as possible, while our nature is very focused on water." Kees adds: "For farmers and gardeners, drought leads to loss of income due to crop failures and additional expenses for irrigation, for example." The Ministry of LNV is making efforts to minimize the impact of drought on farmers. An example of a measure is that 15 million euros have been made available for the Broad Weather Insurance for farmers. They can insure themselves against loss of income due to extreme weather conditions.

Innovative way of watering

It is expected that once every 15 years a huge drought peak will occur. A solution to save the crops is to use irrigation. Maaike: "Irrigation uses valuable drinking water, surface water or groundwater. The process of dehydration continues in this way. Therefore, retaining water and preventing evaporation as much as possible is the best solution."

Information gathering

The Ministry of LNV is in contact with representatives of agricultural and nature organizations to map the consequences of drought in the Netherlands. Through monitoring and research the damage to nature caused by drought will be assessed. This information is used to take appropriate measures against drought. Kees: "This summer the RVO will publish a 'water demand viewer'. This will allow us to more accurately estimate how much water crops in a particular area need. Water boards use that information to make decisions about any irrigation restrictions." Maaike: "After the summer we can analyze the information and draw conclusions. This will be done in cooperation with all levels of government, the state, provinces, municipalities and water boards."

Read the entire interview at Rijksoverheid.nl.