On-the-Ground Update

Drought in Portugal

Carlota Lancastre
Published Mar 2, 2022
Almost 90% of the Portuguese territories are suffering from drought. 52.2% of the Portuguese territory is in severe drought, 38.6% is in extreme drought, especially in the South Regions like Alentejo and Algarve, and 9.2% in moderate drought. The temperatures registered in January and February 2022 are 2.2ºc above the average of the last 20 years in Portugal. The water levels from rain are only 12% of the average of the previous 22 years.

These weather conditions have critical impacts on agriculture, particularly in productions that will start to flourish in the following months, as the grapes with several vines in the South of Portugal (Alentejo). The grapes are now in hibernation status and need water during the “sleep.” The biggest producers can water the vines, but this will increase the cost of production. For the smallest producers, this can be catastrophic because the lack of water can harm the next harvest and even kill the plant.

The Portuguese Agriculture Ministry and the Spanish Ministry, suffering from the issue, have already sent an alert to the European Union and asked for financial help to control the damages in agriculture.
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