Water on the lips of farmers: the number of requests for help is rising spectacularly

Also from sectors that never had a hard time in the past, such as greenhouse growers.

Switch to other crops

Henk Vandevelde from Zedelgem heats his greenhouse with his own combined heat and power plant. It also supplies electricity that it can sell. He also has a permanent contract for his gas, so he is safe for the time being. But many colleagues have to switch to other crops that can withstand the cold better, or they turn the thermostat down a few degrees.

But this shouldn’t take too long for Henk either. Because he sees other costs rising quickly: fertilizers and transport, for example. Suppliers also pass on their higher energy prices to him.

Number of calls for help is rising spectacularly

The non-profit association Boeren op een crossroads saw the number of calls rise spectacularly this year. The association helps farmers with psychological and financial problems. Most ask for help to bridge this period of crisis.

2020: 161 (at 12 months)

2021: 232 (at 12 months)

2022: 72 (at 2.5 months)

The real influx of calls is yet to come, the non-profit organization warns. Farmers always wait a long time to ask for help.