Hungary is expected to suffer huge agricultural losses as drought continues in the country, and the aftermath will also impact livestock farming, the processing industry and the food industry, said a Hungarian agricultural economist.
Since the beginning of this summer, Hungary has been affected by high temperatures and drought. The meteorological department expected the temperature to exceed 40 degrees Celsius in the next few days. The agricultural losses are estimated to reach 470 billion to 500 billion forints (around 1.48 billion to 1.58 billion U.S. dollars).
David Hollosi, the economist, said that since 2020, the extreme summer heat has been very common, featuring low precipitation and exacerbating the loss of soil moisture. Due to high temperatures and drought, the average wheat yield in Hungary is only 4 to 5 tons per hectare. Under normal circumstances, the yield per hectare can reach 5.5 to 6 tons.
"Historically, Hungary has often experienced extremely hot and dry summers. However, in recent years, especially since 2020, this climate has become the norm. Summer rainfall is scarce, and a new problem has emerged -- the amount of water flowing into the soil through rivers and snowmelt during winter is decreasing. As a result, the soil, even deep within the soil, is experiencing severe water deficits. Monitoring data shows a water shortage of 140 to 170 liters per square meter," he said.
"This has had a significant impact on vegetation and crops, such as maize, grains, grapes, and other fruits. It also leads to reduced raw material production, which in turn affects livestock farming, the processing industry, and the entire food industry," he added.
Hungary expected to suffer huge agricultural losses due to drought: economist
Hungary expected to suffer huge agricultural losses due to drought: economist
