Ministers Initiate Round-Table Discussion on Access to water for Horticulture in Luxembourg

The Department of the Environment at Luxembourg's Ministry of Agriculture, Viticulture and Consumer Protection has announced that it has initiated discussion on the availability of water for the horticultural sector in Luxembourg.

The demand for local fruits and vegetables far exceeds national production volumes. Although production areas continue to increase from year to year, there are still many factors that hinder the development of these sectors: the less favourable climatic and soil conditions, the high cost of labour, or the lack of professionals with the necessary technical know-how.

One element that plays a major role, however, is the availability of water. Starting a professional production without access to water for irrigation can be considered hazardous or impossible. The producer seeks access to this valuable resource with the necessary quality, in sufficient quantity and at an affordable price.

In order to find solutions, all the stakeholders, namely the Minister of the Environment, Carole Dieschbourg, the president of Syvicol, Emile Eicher, as well as the professionals of the horticultural and agricultural sector, met on Friday in Remich, invited by the Minister of Agriculture, Viticulture and Consumer Protection, Fernand Etgen.

The intense and constructive discussions showed that there is no quick solution. At the end of the round table, the ministers, Carole Dieschbourg and Fernand Etgen, nevertheless could retain several concrete ways to better meet the needs of the sector.