The situation is paradoxical in the Marne

The fear of a part of the hexagon suffer from a lack of water is almost every year, but it is rare that it occurs so early. The evidence is the convening of a "drought Committee" mid-May, announced yesterday by Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, or one month before the usual time frames. The situation is serious. ""If it doesn't rain in the coming weeks, will it be a risk of drought this summer", warned the Minister of ecology."

The Poitou-Charentes region is the first exposed. All its departments are under surveillance and on part of the watershed, the level of water withdrawals for irrigation has been reduced from 15 to 50. In Vienne, the Deux-Sèvres, and Charente-Maritime, surges are prohibited from 10 to 19 hours. According to Luc Servant, President of the Chamber of agriculture of Charente-Maritime, "he must go back to 2005 to find a more serious situation." "At the time restrictions had begun as early as March.

Some concern is emerging in the Beauce region (Eure and loir, Loiret) and to the South where since 7 April, restrictions are imposed on the farmers of the Cher. Suffers from a flow rivers Touraine le déficit de pluie d' environ 50 rain of about 50 deficit. Farmers should moderate their consumption while cereals have a large need of water, the warmth of the last few days have accelerated their growth. Vigilance is also close to the edge of Loire nuclear plants that require a minimum flow.

The situation is paradoxical in the Marne. The basement is properly reloaded water through the snow in November and December, but drought affects no less young seedlings whose roots reach yet the sheets. Beets and corn are affected. "The situation could become critical if the weather remains the same," notes on the departmental Directorate of the territories.

Three departments (Val-de-Marne, Essonne, and the Seine-et-Marne) are on tenterhooks. "We are concerned: this is a month and a half that we have very little water.". There is profiling the risk of not very good crops. "We already have 5-7 performance and less, and if this continues another 15 days, we will reach the 20 " to alarm Christophe Derycke, President of the FNSEA of Seine and Marne.

After four years of drought, spring 2011 already concerned the agricultural world. "There is urgency," said François Dufour, Vice President of the area of agriculture. 1.743 Farms surveyed, 28 percent were critical of forage stocks and 14 are in difficulty. Yesterday, the region has voted assistance (1,000 euros) maximum operating to reduce the cost of purchase of fodder.

The precipitation deficit since September more than 50 and the "effective" rain is less than 120 mm. "The region has a very important water reservoir and groundwater level is good," However indicates Laurent Degenne, President of the sum TUINBOUWORGANISATIES. Remains that, according to him, "sandy or graniteuses areas may meet difficulties, particularly for spring cereals or vegetables".

The level of the rivers is sufficient, but until when "Even if the flow support reserves are almost full, low snow stock of the Pyrenees and the precipitation deficit of 25 to 50 between September and April require particular vigilance before this summer", warns Aline Comeau, agency Adour-Garonne. One thing is certain, it should be durable and intense rains in May and June to reverse the trend.