As half the UK suffers from drought, the NFU has called for joined-up thinking from government to secure water for farming and protect nation’s food security
Growers in the UK are in urgent need of “secure, reliable access to water” to carry on producing food for the country’s 29mn households, according to the National Farmers’ Union, as the nation bakes through its third heatwave of the year.
Today it was confirmed by the Met Office that more than half the UK was officially in drought – one made far more likely by manmade climate change.
“Farmers and growers have always had to contend with the weather, but what they are experiencing now is climate change in action,” said NFU deputy president Paul Tompkins. “Across every sector and every part of the country, farmers and growers are seeing first-hand the impact of dry weather and drought, with more extreme conditions making it harder, riskier and more costly to produce the nation’s food.”
Extreme weather has become more frequent and intense over the past decade, according to a recent report by the Met Office, while the NFU’s own 10-year weather survey found that 70 per cent of farmers had experienced an increase in heatwaves and heat stress, adding extra difficulty and risk to their jobs.
“This should matter to everyone,” urged Tompkins. “Water is a vital ingredient in food production, and without a secure supply, we cannot build resilient farm businesses or strengthen the country’s food security.”
He said there were practical steps the government and water supply chain could take now. “That means creating a risk register for vulnerable farm businesses, improving local communications, being adaptable as possible with abstraction so farmers can access water when it rains, and unlocking the investment and planning changes needed to build more reservoirs,” he outlined.
“With joined-up government, this can be achieved,” he concluded. “Securing water for farming means securing the food on the nation’s plates.”
