In the Twente part of Vechtstromen, irrigation bans are applied during dry
periods, yet little pressure is felt in the agricultural sector to incorporate comprehensive water scarcity and drought measures, such as metering groundwater and
surface water extractions. On the contrary, the intensive agriculture practices, which
imply, among others, increased use of machinery and irrigation water, have a
negative impact on surface runoff and groundwater levels, respectively. There are
several agri-environmental measures, which are mostly voluntary and fragmented,
and thus can address water scarcity and drought limitedly. The political and public
awareness is seen as too low to create incentives that combine drought resilience
and agricultural objectives. Two types of intersectoral competition affect the
drought resilience of the agricultural sector both in Salland and Twente. First one is
on the difference regarding surface water use priorities in the east and west of the
country. In the west part of the Netherlands, surface water needs to be flushed to
prevent salt intrusion, which implies a lower availability for agricultural use in the
east part. Second one is the displacement chain, which outlines the priorities of
competing water uses during dry periods, when meeting the water demand for all
uses becomes impracticable. As explained in Chap. 8, agricultural production has a
low priority in this chain. Although both of these competitions exist for a long time,
they can become threatening for the agricultural sector, under worsening water
scarcity and drought conditions.
Looking at the intersectoral linkages related to drought and its agricultural
impacts, a diversity of situations can be discerned from the six case study regions.
On the one hand, in the Flanders and Somerset cases, several measures are in place
to address the cross-sectorial issues and to encourage measures, such as water
saving and reuse, with varying enforcement levels among the regions. On the other
hand, in the Vilaine, Salland and Twente cases, the competition among the sectors
are addressed, while the current high water availability levels do not create enough
incentives to monitor water withdrawals in the agricultural sector. Finally, in the
Eifel-Rur region, the relatively low importance of the agricultural water use leads to
a lack of recognition regarding the intersectoral linkages, with a growing interest
from the side of farmers.
10.4 Multilevel Interactions Regarding Agricultural
Measures
Multiple governance levels can be relevant regarding the agricultural practices and
the political and practical measures related to drought adaptation and management.
Within the North-west European context, there is an inherent role of the EU-level
policies on water and agriculture, whereas the local and national actors and policies
also interact regarding the formulation and implementation of agricultural practices
and measures.
10 Cross-cutting Perspective on Agriculture
209
periods, yet little pressure is felt in the agricultural sector to incorporate comprehensive water scarcity and drought measures, such as metering groundwater and
surface water extractions. On the contrary, the intensive agriculture practices, which
imply, among others, increased use of machinery and irrigation water, have a
negative impact on surface runoff and groundwater levels, respectively. There are
several agri-environmental measures, which are mostly voluntary and fragmented,
and thus can address water scarcity and drought limitedly. The political and public
awareness is seen as too low to create incentives that combine drought resilience
and agricultural objectives. Two types of intersectoral competition affect the
drought resilience of the agricultural sector both in Salland and Twente. First one is
on the difference regarding surface water use priorities in the east and west of the
country. In the west part of the Netherlands, surface water needs to be flushed to
prevent salt intrusion, which implies a lower availability for agricultural use in the
east part. Second one is the displacement chain, which outlines the priorities of
competing water uses during dry periods, when meeting the water demand for all
uses becomes impracticable. As explained in Chap. 8, agricultural production has a
low priority in this chain. Although both of these competitions exist for a long time,
they can become threatening for the agricultural sector, under worsening water
scarcity and drought conditions.
Looking at the intersectoral linkages related to drought and its agricultural
impacts, a diversity of situations can be discerned from the six case study regions.
On the one hand, in the Flanders and Somerset cases, several measures are in place
to address the cross-sectorial issues and to encourage measures, such as water
saving and reuse, with varying enforcement levels among the regions. On the other
hand, in the Vilaine, Salland and Twente cases, the competition among the sectors
are addressed, while the current high water availability levels do not create enough
incentives to monitor water withdrawals in the agricultural sector. Finally, in the
Eifel-Rur region, the relatively low importance of the agricultural water use leads to
a lack of recognition regarding the intersectoral linkages, with a growing interest
from the side of farmers.
10.4 Multilevel Interactions Regarding Agricultural
Measures
Multiple governance levels can be relevant regarding the agricultural practices and
the political and practical measures related to drought adaptation and management.
Within the North-west European context, there is an inherent role of the EU-level
policies on water and agriculture, whereas the local and national actors and policies
also interact regarding the formulation and implementation of agricultural practices
and measures.
10 Cross-cutting Perspective on Agriculture
209