According to AFP, July was the driest month ever recorded by the UK Met Office. Prolonged lack of rain has seriously affected many agricultural production areas of this country.
At a farm in Suffolk, eastern England, farmer John Pawsey witnessed a sharp decrease in the yield of many crops such as oats, wheat and beans. Mr. Pawsey said that the land at the farm suddenly became barren, while the drought lasted for weeks and seemed to have no signs of ending.
The harvest season has begun, Mr. Pawsey's family's concerns have become reality when this year's output has decreased by about 25 - 30% compared to normal levels.
His family has been attached to agriculture in Suffolk for generations. However, this 62-year-old farmer is concerned that weather fluctuations are making the future of the agricultural sector increasingly unstable.
Drought is the latest challenge caused by extreme weather to British farmers in the past 5 years. Consecutive heat waves this year are adding pressure to food production activities.
According to Mr. Pawsey, farmers need to change farming methods to adapt to increasingly hot and dry climate conditions. At his organic farm, he has tested crops that are more suitable for arid climates such as silkworm beans, chicken beans, and applied intercropping models to increase crop resistance.
Food security expert Timothy Benton said that Britain needs to reduce intensive farming and move towards a more diverse and circular agricultural system.
This model can help the food system increase its resilience, while reducing dependence on imported sources such as fruits and fertilizers.
He also warned that climate change will continue to strongly impact, forcing the food system to change, while the UK has not invested enough in technological innovation to cope with these challenges.
Drought also seriously affects many familiar foods in the UK. Professor Nicola Cannon at the Royal Agricultural University of England said that this year's peas production only reached about half of expectations due to prolonged lack of rain since March.
Similarly, at Mr. Pawsey's farm, the entire Quinoa (quinoa) crop was also completely lost because there was not enough water. He said that the only trees growing in the fields are weeds and buckwheat.
Chairman of the UK Farmers' Union Tom Bradshaw warned that a shortage of some food could occur if the drought lasts. He said that Britain has long been subjective about food supply.
Meanwhile, low production has caused farmers' profits to decrease, limiting investment capital for new crop varieties and climate change adaptation solutions.
Professor Cannon believes that consumers can contribute to supporting farmers by prioritizing seasonal British agricultural products. This helps create more market stability, thereby encouraging farmers to invest in new production methods.
Prime Minister's spokesman Andy Burnham emphasized: "Food security is national security". The British government said it will increase investment in water infrastructure, including plans to build 9 new reservoirs.
