According to the Potato Association of Portugal (Porbatata), the drought will cause a 10% decrease in potato production this year.

The fall results from a 50% decrease in rainfed potato output per hectare and a 10% decrease in irrigated potato productivity, according to Sérgio Ferreira, president of Porbatata, who spoke to Lusa news agency.

“There needs to be more speed immediately in paying support to production and, in the short and medium term, to implement a true irrigation strategy, with the construction of dams and ponds,” he emphasized, stating that legislation regarding borehole sinking should be modified to permit these groundwater access points “next to streams and rivers”.