Actions and measures for mitigation drought and water scarcity in agriculture

Abstract

Abstract The paper characterizes the phenomena of droughts and water scarcity in Polish agriculture and their impacts on crop yield. Various preventive measures should be undertaken to mitigate the harmful effects of droughts and water scarcity. The most important is the development of water resources. To accomplish this aim, small scale water retention projects and irrigation development programs should be further implemented in many provinces of Poland. Effective use of irrigation water, optimization of water distribution, crop rotation, rehabilitation and modernization of the existing irrigation systems, soil reclamation are the examples of other measures. The pressure for increased water supplies is intensifying in Poland. That is why there is an urgent need to improve the uniform national plans of drought and water scarcity mitigation including guidelines on how to prevent and counteract the effects of water scarcity in agriculture and to release recommendations stating the most adequate measures to be undertaken.