Based on a survey conducted with the participation of the village farmers' network of the National Chamber of Agrarian Economy (NAK), producers in 5 sample areas implement water retention projects on lower-quality agricultural lands under the professional guidance of the water management directorates, the NAK announced.

According to their information, based on the willingness of the producers and the professional water proposals (technical and water resource possibilities), NAK specialists selected 5 different types of sample areas: one each in the counties of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, Hajdú-Bihar and Békés, and two in the counties of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok .

NAK organizes professional workshops for producers farming in the sample areas, and the water sector prepares the technical project documentation required for the principled water rights licensing procedure.

Thanks to this, water retention can be realized with professional support. In addition, the invitations regarding the soon-to-be-opened water sector within the framework of the KAP Strategic Plan will be presented to the stakeholders.

In addition to drawing attention to the importance of water conservation in agricultural areas, the project also presents sustainable, natural water conservation solutions.

The goal is that other producers who are thinking about water conservation will later learn about the water retention practices implemented in the sample areas.

Commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Institute of Agricultural Economics, the National Directorate General of Water, the Irrigation and Water Management Research Center of the MATE Institute of Environmental Sciences and the NAK village farmer network conducted a national survey in the spring about the willingness of farmers in low-lying areas suitable for water retention, and what they know about it .

The survey was related to a 40,000-hectare low-lying area potentially suitable for water retention, designated on the basis of natural, environmental and technical aspects.

More than 10,000 of the approximately 11,000 potentially affected producers responded during the time available to fill out the questionnaire - barely 1 month. This also clearly shows that an answer to the problems caused by climate extremes must be found as soon as possible

they wrote.

80 percent of the respondents consider it important to retain water in cropland, half are willing to change the utilization of the affected area, where the creation of wetlands and grasslands is preferred, but agroforestry systems and energy plantations also play a role.

However, in order to implement it, the producers need both professional and financial support, and technical developments would also be necessary.

Among the producers, there is the greatest demand for the development of drainage ditches, canal systems and structures for water management, as well as their development, the NAK announced.

MTI

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