Hungarian Farmers Battle Desertification with Thermal Water

Southern Hungary's Homokhátság region is increasingly parched, with signs of desertification becoming more pronounced each year. Farmers are observing wider soil cracks and growing sand dunes, a stark transformation from its agricultural past. This aridification is attributed to a combination of climate changes and mismanagement of land resources.

In an innovative effort to combat this crisis, a collective of farmers and volunteers, known as 'water guardians,' is leveraging Hungary's abundant thermal water. They are working to redirect unused overflow from a local thermal spa onto their lands, aiming to mimic natural flood cycles.

This pioneering project involves flooding a 2.5-hectare field with cooled, purified thermal water. The water guardians hope this will not only replenish the groundwater but also create a microclimate through evaporation, increasing humidity, reducing dust, and supporting remaining vegetation. This effort comes after another harsh, dry summer, with the guardians having successfully blocked sluices to gather the repurposed water.