While France is preparing for a fourth week of heat since the beginning of summer, the drought is jeopardizing crops.
The president of the National Federation of Farmers' Unions (FNSEA) believes that "
storing water intelligently is a priority
".
"
Letting nature take its course is good, beautiful and good, but it's ideology
," says Christiane Lambert, in the Journal du dimanche.
The climate situation we are experiencing requires human management of the problem
”.
And to add: “
Without artificial storage, some who do not have access to water will find themselves condemned to grow non-irrigated crops.
It will be wheat, wheat, wheat.
And monoculture, we know what it can lead to
.”
Read alsoDrought: is there a risk of a large-scale lack of drinking water in the coming weeks?
The lack of rainfall and the alarming state of the water tables raise fears of increasingly severe restrictions for households.
To remedy this, the government is calling on the French and professionals to reduce their water consumption.
"
We've been adapting for 10 years
," says Christiane Lambert.
We have already reduced our water needs by 30%.
In many departments, farmers have no choice: they need water.
A tomato is 90% water.
Farmers' water feeds us
”.
But the trade unionist estimates that "
only 5% of farmers
" use irrigation to save crops.
Read alsoHow to store water to cope with the next droughts?
The FNSEA also fears a shortage of milk due to the lack of fodder linked to the drought.
Consequence: the crops burn and the meadows turn yellow.
“
Animals looking for food damage the earth by scratching it.
The lack of fodder will affect all farms and all of France.
The harvest will start in some vineyards three weeks in advance
,” worries Christiane Lambert.
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