British farmers are grappling with record breaking rain that has left fields underwater in some areas. There are now warnings food production will be reduced in an industry already struggling with higher fuel and fertiliser costs.

Lincolnshire

Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently amid rising sea-levels and increasing temperatures.

Climate Crisis

Parts of England struck by unprecedented rainfall have left British farmers battling against the severe aftermath, with warnings that food production could see a significant decrease amid an already challenging period of elevated fuel and fertilizer costs. This devastating weather event has submerged vast areas of England's most fertile farmland, following a series of devastating storms and an 18-month period of record-breaking rainfall levels. The water levels are gradually subsiding, but the damage to the agriculture sector is extensive and far-reaching.

Farmer Henry Ward, a young agriculturist navigating the daunting challenges of farming amidst these extreme weather conditions, expressed the severe impact of the flooding on his livelihood. With his land underwater, the ability to grow and sell crops as a means to provide for his family is severely compromised. The inability to insure crops against flooding means that the financial losses from the unharvested produce could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The implications extend beyond individual farmers like Ward, hinting at a national agricultural crisis should these patterns continue.

Despite the adversity, some farmers have commenced planting after their lands were submerged, showcasing the resilience of the British farming community. However, the productivity levels are expected to dip significantly. With the UK historically achieving 60% food self-sufficiency, forecasts now suggest a potential drop to the lower 50s. Given the global reliance on food imports, this reduction underscores the urgent need for the UK to bolster its food production capabilities to mitigate future shortages.

Farmers are on the frontline of climate change, forced to adapt to its relentless impacts. This involves diversifying farming practices, engaging with political entities, government agencies, and consumers to navigate the challenges presented by climate change. Despite the government's efforts to support agriculture, the consensus among many farmers is that more extensive actions are necessary to ensure the sustainability and viability of farming operations in the face of ongoing environmental uncertainties.



Parts of England hit by record-breaking rain

Huge swathes of prime English farmland under water, months after devastating storms swept the country. The levels are slowly receding, but the damage has been done. A few weeks ago, these fields resembled an inland sea. The only way to get to the house was by boat. It should all be planted, should be green. Farmer Henry Ward finds himself facing a financial battle caused by massive storms and 18 months of record rainfall. It's absolutely horrendous. You know, I'm a young farmer, got a baby on the way, trying to provide for my family. This is how I'm meant to earn a living, is by producing food and selling it. And if it's covered in water, I can't do that. And you get up every day to see your farms, you know, looking like this, and you're just wondering, well, how on earth am I going to carry on? While property can be insured against flooding, crops in the ground can't. So the estimated loss of not bringing in the harvest here will run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. The soil under the water is some of the most fertile in the country, but clearly no crops will be produced from it in the next few months. And the farmer here faces the real risk of it flooding again. And that means food, which should be making its way onto the market in the coming months from here, won't. A few kilometres away, some planting has been taking place after the land was heavily flooded. But it has been a struggle, and that's reflected the national picture. Hopefully we're normally 60% food efficient in this country. I think realistically, that'll be down in the lower 50s. And with what's going on around the world now, we can't rely on importing all these different vegetables from everywhere else. We need to be up around 70% self-sufficient to make sure we're OK. Farmers are adaptable, but increasingly find themselves on the front line of climate change, both here and around the world. It's very, very difficult. They've got to diversify. They've got to work with politicians, work with government, work with different agencies, network, communicate to consumers, do as much as they can. But ultimately, there's very little, in many circumstances, that they can do. The UK government says it is supporting agriculture, but many farmers believe they need to go further. They're trying to establish how to make this land viable, whatever the future brings. Emma Haywood, Al Jazeera, in Lincolnshire.

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