Bad weather causes millions in agriculture losses
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
12.08.2016 06:47
The negative effect of bad weather on agriculture this year has been estimated at PLN 152 million (EUR 36 million) to August, caused by a mixture of drought, hail and storms.
Photo: sxc.hu
Damage estimates are likely to increase further as so far only 216 of over a thousand local committees created to assess damages have reported back to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Deputy Minister for agriculture, Rafał Romanowski, explained, “Damages are still being reported all the time; recently they have mostly concerned hail, heavy rain and strong winds.”
The worst affected area was the Małopolskie Voivodeship, southern Poland, which accounts for almost a third of total agricultural damages. In some parts of Poland, losses reached 100 percent of planted crops.
Romanowski noted that his ministry has now put in place a special team to coordinate responses to bad weather. Last year the ministry was criticized by farmers for being slow in responding to damage caused by weather.
Financial compensation for agricultural damages is usually offered in the form of cheap loans to the affected farmers, though in some cases reductions in social security payments are also awarded. (sl/rg)
Source: PAP