perspective by describing the drought and water scarcity problems related to agriculture. Section 10.3 examines the intersectoral linkages by examining the relationship of drought with the risks of the competing sectors of agriculture. Then Sect. 10.4
focuses on the multiplicity of governance levels and outlines the interactions among
local, regional, national and European Union (EU) policies and actors. In Sect. 10.5,
awareness on the agricultural impacts of drought within the public and policy spheres
is assessed. Finally, Sect. 10.6 synthesizes the discussions presented in the previous
sections in order to provide an outlook regarding the adaptation to the existing and
future impacts of drought from an agricultural perspective.
10.2 Drought and Water Scarcity Problems Related
to Agriculture
In many areas of the world, drought negatively affects both rainfed and irrigated
agriculture due to decreased water availability and quality. As a result, two common
impacts of drought on agriculture are often observed, namely decreased crop yields
and harvest qualities. In the North-west Europe region, these impacts result in
several implications for the agricultural practices and the farming community, as
illustrated in the six case study regions. In the paragraphs below, the general
problem perspective in each case study region is described first by providing the
role of agricultural production and then by explaining the recent drought occurrences and their implications for the agricultural sector.
More than 46 % of Flanders’ surface area is used for agriculture and counts for
1.5 % of the gross domestic product of Flanders. The total area of land earmarked
for farming has remained roughly the same over the last years. The farmland is
mainly situated in the provinces of West and East Flanders, in Hesbaye and
Northern Campine. 56 % of the agricultural area is covered with fodder crops
(meadows, pasture and feed maize), which can be explained by the importance of
stockbreeding (mainly pigs, cattle, poultry). Arable farming uses 35 % of the
agricultural area. The main crops are cereals, potatoes and sugar beet. On 8 % of the
agricultural area horticulture is practised, mainly for vegetables and fruits.
Horticulture is a very relevant economic area for Flanders, e.g. Flanders is the world
leader for export of frozen vegetables (Platteau and Van Bogaert 2014). Drought
issues are not widely discussed in the Flanders’ agricultural sector. However, for
horticulture a high water quality is necessary, which partially cannot be reached at
some times during the year. Furthermore, the sandy loam area in the centre of
Flanders accounts for the high-value horticulture production, but is very dependent
on rainfall and groundwater. In the past, Flanders has experienced droughts in the
years 1976, 1996, 2003, 2006 and 2011. In recent years, droughts have had several
consequences in Flanders and on several occasions water extraction from the
Albertkanaal has been restricted. The drought period in the summer of 2003 did not
reduce the agricultural yields. This was attributed to the fact that the drought was
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G. Özerol and J. Troeltzsch
focuses on the multiplicity of governance levels and outlines the interactions among
local, regional, national and European Union (EU) policies and actors. In Sect. 10.5,
awareness on the agricultural impacts of drought within the public and policy spheres
is assessed. Finally, Sect. 10.6 synthesizes the discussions presented in the previous
sections in order to provide an outlook regarding the adaptation to the existing and
future impacts of drought from an agricultural perspective.
10.2 Drought and Water Scarcity Problems Related
to Agriculture
In many areas of the world, drought negatively affects both rainfed and irrigated
agriculture due to decreased water availability and quality. As a result, two common
impacts of drought on agriculture are often observed, namely decreased crop yields
and harvest qualities. In the North-west Europe region, these impacts result in
several implications for the agricultural practices and the farming community, as
illustrated in the six case study regions. In the paragraphs below, the general
problem perspective in each case study region is described first by providing the
role of agricultural production and then by explaining the recent drought occurrences and their implications for the agricultural sector.
More than 46 % of Flanders’ surface area is used for agriculture and counts for
1.5 % of the gross domestic product of Flanders. The total area of land earmarked
for farming has remained roughly the same over the last years. The farmland is
mainly situated in the provinces of West and East Flanders, in Hesbaye and
Northern Campine. 56 % of the agricultural area is covered with fodder crops
(meadows, pasture and feed maize), which can be explained by the importance of
stockbreeding (mainly pigs, cattle, poultry). Arable farming uses 35 % of the
agricultural area. The main crops are cereals, potatoes and sugar beet. On 8 % of the
agricultural area horticulture is practised, mainly for vegetables and fruits.
Horticulture is a very relevant economic area for Flanders, e.g. Flanders is the world
leader for export of frozen vegetables (Platteau and Van Bogaert 2014). Drought
issues are not widely discussed in the Flanders’ agricultural sector. However, for
horticulture a high water quality is necessary, which partially cannot be reached at
some times during the year. Furthermore, the sandy loam area in the centre of
Flanders accounts for the high-value horticulture production, but is very dependent
on rainfall and groundwater. In the past, Flanders has experienced droughts in the
years 1976, 1996, 2003, 2006 and 2011. In recent years, droughts have had several
consequences in Flanders and on several occasions water extraction from the
Albertkanaal has been restricted. The drought period in the summer of 2003 did not
reduce the agricultural yields. This was attributed to the fact that the drought was
204
G. Özerol and J. Troeltzsch