Growers in West Sussex are bracing themselves for the prospect of serious drought conditions after the local authority imposed a domestic hosepipe ban.
Although they can for now continue to abstract water to irrigate crops, there are fears that growers of produce such as strawberries and lettuce could be hit with a ban further down the line if dry conditions persist.
Mark Rose, executive officer of the West Sussex Growers’ Association, said that producers were monitoring the situation. “We’re looking at it with some concern because a domestic hosepipe ban is the initial stage. But it’s very much wait and see.”
Under the law, the Environment Agency has far-
reaching powers to prevent farmers and growers from abstracting water for irrigation if drought reaches a crisis point.
However, Rose said he was hopeful it would not come to that. “We are confident that the local Environment Agency understands the importance of horticulture to the area.
“A ban on business use would put at risk £300m worth of horticulture and up to 3,000 jobs in West Sussex alone. We think the agency accepts this and a ban would only be a last resort.”
During the extremely hot summer of 2003, British lettuce growers were forced to fly produce in from as far afield as the US to meet their obligations to the UK’s supermarkets.
Meanwhile, producers in Spain are coping with a continuing drought, said to be the worst it has faced in 60 years.
Foods From Spain said volumes of grapes and Picota cherries had not been adversely affected - and indeed were expected to be bigger than last year (see story below left). However, growers of peppers and tomatoes face a nervous wait to see whether the dry conditions, which have persisted for eight months now, will affect their produce.
Richard Clarke
Although they can for now continue to abstract water to irrigate crops, there are fears that growers of produce such as strawberries and lettuce could be hit with a ban further down the line if dry conditions persist.
Mark Rose, executive officer of the West Sussex Growers’ Association, said that producers were monitoring the situation. “We’re looking at it with some concern because a domestic hosepipe ban is the initial stage. But it’s very much wait and see.”
Under the law, the Environment Agency has far-
reaching powers to prevent farmers and growers from abstracting water for irrigation if drought reaches a crisis point.
However, Rose said he was hopeful it would not come to that. “We are confident that the local Environment Agency understands the importance of horticulture to the area.
“A ban on business use would put at risk £300m worth of horticulture and up to 3,000 jobs in West Sussex alone. We think the agency accepts this and a ban would only be a last resort.”
During the extremely hot summer of 2003, British lettuce growers were forced to fly produce in from as far afield as the US to meet their obligations to the UK’s supermarkets.
Meanwhile, producers in Spain are coping with a continuing drought, said to be the worst it has faced in 60 years.
Foods From Spain said volumes of grapes and Picota cherries had not been adversely affected - and indeed were expected to be bigger than last year (see story below left). However, growers of peppers and tomatoes face a nervous wait to see whether the dry conditions, which have persisted for eight months now, will affect their produce.
Richard Clarke
No comments yet