Torrential rains at the end of July have destroyed the vegetable harvest across 60 hectares at Kadarbiku, Estonia's largest vegetable producer. Ville Pak, the production director at Kadarbiku, revealed the extent of the damage during a recent interview. According to Pak, 120 mm of rain fell in just four hours, resulting in complete field inundation. "By Sunday evening, the fields had turned into lakes," Pak said.
The battle against the floodwaters lasted for two days. "We dug trenches in the fields, used tractor pumps, and even rented pumps from the fire department and other companies. For two days, we were battling the water with pumps and buckets, managing to lower the water level somewhat. But in the end, it was likely an exercise in futility. You can fight drought—irrigate quickly and salvage part of the crop—but there's no chance with water, it takes everything," Pak explained.
The flooding resulted in the total loss of crops on 60 hectares, including 14 hectares of cabbage and 13 hectares of carrots. The estimated financial damage ranges from €300,000 to €350,000. "For me, this is a total catastrophe," Pak said.
He noted that the flooding is unlikely to affect vegetable availability or prices, stating, "We have a large market in the European Union, and this local flooding will not impact prices."
Pak also indicated that Kadarbiku will likely abandon the cultivation of summer vegetables due to the excessive risks involved. He recalled that the last rainfall of comparable intensity occurred in 2005 when the farm had 300 hectares of vegetables, compared to the current 170 hectares.
Source: rus.err.ee