Dresden (dpa/sn) - The left in the Saxon state parliament are demanding support for farmers when testing plants that can cope better with drought. On Friday, the left-wing faction proposed a fund for this purpose. The Free State should support selected projects that promote the cultivation of drought-tolerant and old varieties and crops in agriculturally disadvantaged regions, it said.
"To ensure that the food supply remains secure and that small farms in particular remain alive, the state government must now open up new possibilities," emphasized MP Antonia Mertsching. Above all, areas with light sandy soils, such as in northern and eastern Saxony, would suffer from a lack of precipitation. Added to this would be new diseases, pests and the risk of soil degeneration.
"The climatic development gives no hope. Farmers therefore urgently need more leeway when using and experimenting with drought-tolerant crops," said the politician. The more regular dry and hot periods also required adaptability in terms of irrigation and water storage. "Government drought aid can secure liquidity, but it is not a precaution."
According to Mertsching, the aim is to strengthen farmers' willingness to innovate. A differentiated selection of suitable crops and the use of appropriate cultivation techniques could help stabilize costs and yields or open up further prospects for sales. "That's why we propose one-off fixed grants for testing and development. Results and findings must then be made available to the Free State and the public." Although traditional field crops such as oats, emmer, einkorn, lentils or hemp, but also quinoa and lavender are often less productive, their market value is currently increasing, argued Mertsching. However, such cultures would entail new challenges and considerable additional work. "In this respect, the cultivation of special arable crops often requires additional capital or personnel and a lot of staying power, in addition to the courage to dare something new."
