Soaring Costs
The current drought and high temperatures are placing national fruit and vegetable producers under mounting pressure this summer. The Luxembourg Fruit Growers' Association raised the alarm in a letter on Tuesday, explaining that the situation is becoming acutely problematic, both agronomically and economically, for a good number of businesses.
Costs have shot up, since growers have had to irrigate their crops in the absence of rain. Even so, lower yields are expected for many crops this year, meaning reduced income against high costs for producers.
The association is calling on politicians to create the necessary conditions for production. If the country wants more Luxembourg-grown fruit and vegetables, the letter notes, it also has to ensure that water is available to producers during dry spells.
That, the association added, does not mean using unlimited quantities of drinking water for agriculture. What is needed is a smart and sustainable water strategy.
Higher costs, lower yields, and a plea for something that should have been planned years ago. The drought is not new. The ask is not unreasonable. The water strategy does not yet exist.