In Kastanies, Greece, on a surprisingly warm January day, Dimitris Marinoglou worked his field with concern. He feared that the water supply from Bulgaria, crucial for his family's crops, might dry up by summer. The water, flowing since 1964 under a war reparations agreement, irrigates 50,000 acres of the Evros plain. However, the deal expired last July, and its renewal is uncertain as Bulgaria assesses its own water requirements.
The situation underscores the critical role of water resources in southern Europe where climate change has made rainfall less reliable. Marinoglou, 32, emphasized the significance of water, stating, "Nothing can be done without water."
Greek farmers in Kastanies recently protested, urging the government to secure a new deal promptly. Talks have been delayed due to political instability in Bulgaria. Bulgaria's ministries stated the need to prioritize their national water requirements.
Under the previous agreement, Bulgaria supplied water to Evros from May to September, facilitating crop growth. Grievances among farmers include high costs and uncertainty over the water supply. Nikos Poptsoglou, a 59-year-old farmer, expressed concern over the impact on production due to last year's drought.
Local farmers stressed their dependence on Bulgarian water due to the inadequate local infrastructure. Dimitris Drakoudis, a farmers' association leader, highlighted the lack of maintenance and infrastructure development over the past six decades.