Irrigation

Greece is facing a severe water management crisis, with experts warning that climate change and inefficient water use threaten its resources.

Maria Stoumboudi, director of the Hellenic Center for Marine Research, emphasized that Greece is already behind in sustainable water practices, particularly when compared to countries like Israel, which recycles over 70% of its water.

Maximos Charakopoulos, a Member of Parliament for New Democracy, is urging the cancellation of electricity charges levied on farmers affected by severe flooding, particularly those using power for irrigation wells.

Bulgaria has formally requested the activation of funds from the European Union's agricultural reserve due to extensive damage caused by the ongoing drought, announced Acting Minister of Agriculture Georgi Takhov, according to the ministry's press release. The request highlights that the country has also been severely affected by fires in July and August.

The ongoing drought in Bulgaria is attributed to record-high temperatures and outdated infrastructure, according to Acting Minister of Environment and Waters, Petar Dimitrov. He presented his assessment during a hearing before the National Assembly, where he was joined by Minister of Agriculture, Georgi Tahov, and Regional Minister, Violeta Koritarova.

NEA SILATA - Six weeks before harvest, there's no water left in the ground for farmer Dimitris Papadakis' olive grove in northern Greece, so he has started a new morning routine.

Joined by his teenage son, he uses a truck to bring water from nearby areas. Using a small generator, he connects the vehicle to irrigation pipes to save what's left of his thirsty crop.

The Meriç River, a vital water resource utilized in agricultural irrigation in the northwestern city of Edirne, has seen a significant decrease in water flow as a result of scorching temperatures and low precipitation levels, prompting authorities to progressively pump water into the river basin.

Most of Greece's rural areas are currently facing water rationing due to severe drought and water scarcity, which is impacting crop yields. Peach, nectarine, apricot and plum trees in northern Greece are suffering from water shortages and underperforming.

According to a report by BNR, the mayor of Kyustendil, Ognyan Atanasov, has issued an order prohibiting the use of drinking water for purposes such as irrigation, watering green areas, and washing streets or cars. Violators of this order face fines of up to BGN 5,000, with repeat offenders required to pay the maximum penalty.

A viral video depicts water streaming from a pipe. The park has confessed to implementing drought measures to prevent disappointing its visitors

Researchers at Mersin University (MEÜ) have developed a hydrogel aimed at protecting Mediterranean vineyards from the effects of drought.

The innovation is part of an international project supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) and dubbed VineProtect, a collaborative effort involving universities in Portugal, Italy, Morocco and Türkiye.