Credit: ME
On Tuesday 2 July 2024, as part of their ongoing efforts to support Luxembourg's agricultural sector, Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture, Martine Hansen, and Minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, Serge Wilmes, visited the Fischbach family's organic farm in Enscherange.
According to the ministries, Fischbach farm is a pioneer in the field of organic vegetable growing in the Éislek, or northern Oesling. The farm currently grows carrots, onions, shallots, red beets, parsnips and parsley root. In addition, it devotes 23 hectares to the cultivation of table potatoes as well as the production of seed potatoes. Other crops include einkorn wheat, buckwheat, spelt, mustard seeds, malting barley and brewing wheat.
A water-saving irrigation project
Currently, water resources only partially cover the agronomically desirable needs, the ministries noted. To improve this situation, the farm submitted a project as part of the call for projects "resource-saving irrigation techniques in horticulture" resulting from the "Waasserdësch" of 2021. This project, which was selected in this call for projects, consists of two main points, namely water extraction from the Clerve River and the construction of a storage basin. Water collection will take place during rainy periods when the levels of the Clerve are sufficient. The water collected from the river will then be stored in a basin and can be used when needed.
According to the ministries, the visit allowed the ministers to see first-hand the challenges faced by farmers. It also provided an opportunity to discuss ways to simplify administrative procedures and strengthen cooperation between the various ministries and administrations with the agricultural sector to increase local production. In this context, the ministers present expressed their willingness to find rapid and pragmatic solutions so that this project can succeed.
Prime Minister Frieden reaffirmed the government's support for farmers: "We are determined to create a framework that facilitates the work of our farmers and supports them in their efforts to further develop local production of our vegetables. The government is committed to easing administrative constraints and supporting the sector in its efforts for sustainable and productive agriculture."
Minister Hansen stressed: "The government wants to further diversify agriculture by increasing the production of fruit and vegetables on Luxembourg territory. To achieve this goal, it is crucial to develop efficient solutions for the irrigation of these crops."
Minister Wilmes added: "It is essential to simplify administrative procedures for farmers so that they can reduce administrative tasks as much as possible and exploit their land efficiently while respecting nature. This visit is an important step to better understand the needs on the ground and work together to find effective solutions."
