Drought: 93 departments on alert in France, Lambert worries about farmers

Europe 1 with AFP 6:12 p.m., July 28, 2022

All of mainland France, with the exception of Paris, Hauts-de-Seine and Seine-Saint-Denis, was placed on drought alert on Thursday at different levels, i.e. 93 of the 96 metropolitan departments, said the ministry of the ecological transition.

“Today we have 93 departments concerned by a restriction beyond vigilance, on at least part of the territory: 9 on alert, 38 on heightened alert and 46 in crisis”, indicates the ministry.

Variable water restrictions according to the departments

A large majority of the departments south of a line running from Calvados to the Alpes-Maritimes are in drought crisis.

The other departments south of this line are on heightened alert, except Côtes-d'Armor, on alert.

Since Wednesday, "we note the passage of Haute-Vienne and Hautes-Alpes in crisis, Yvelines have gone on alert and Haute-Loire on heightened alert".

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Restrictions on water use vary according to the alert threshold, ranging from a ban on watering gardens at certain times, to a halt to non-priority withdrawals, including withdrawals for agricultural purposes.

At the crisis level, only withdrawals allowing the exercise of priority uses are authorised, linked to health, civil security, drinking water and sanitation.

Hottest month since 1958

Metropolitan France should experience its driest July since the start of measurements in 1959, according to Météo-France.

Still according to Météo-France, which publishes monthly trends for the next three months, "the + warmer than normal + scenario is the most likely for France" for the period from August to October, with "moderate" confidence. " in this scenario.

"A 'drier than normal' scenario is most likely over much of central Europe, from the northeast quarter of France to Poland and western Ukraine," but " no scenario emerges on the other French regions", says the meteorological service.

What are the risks for farmers? 

Consequence of this drought: farmers will see their crops endangered.

A situation that alarms Christiane Lambert, the president of the FNSEA (National Federation of Farmers' Unions): "The winter was very dry, the spring was very hot and there the number of days at scorching temperature is increasing. to finish killing the meadows, the corn, and affects the vines a lot with blows of the blowtorch on the bunches of grapes and on the leaves. The risk is a big loss for the farmers, "she explains to the microphone from Europe 1.

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She fears that this drought, coupled with the war in Ukraine, will push up the prices of raw materials: "The risk too is that it is added to the events linked to the war in Ukraine which impact us with price increases. fertilizers, fuel, energy and gas. My appeal to consumers is a gesture of solidarity, that they choose French fruits, French products, French meats, to come to support for farmers," she adds.