LJUBLJANA, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Severe drought this summer has cost Slovenia some 128 million euros (160 million U.S dollars), an official report by the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry said on Tuesday.

The Pomurje region, a prime grain production region in easternmost Slovenia, is estimated to have incurred crop losses of 21 million euros as thousands of hectares of corn fields have been decimated by drought.

The western Primorsko region suffered the most with losses estimated at 35 million euros by local authorities.

The Slovenian government is likely to declare the drought a national disaster, the report added.

Hot dry weather with temperatures between 30 and 37 degrees centigrade caused irreparable damage to maize crops, vegetables and apple orchards in many parts of the country last month.

Under Slovenian law, if damage caused by natural phenomena exceeds 0.03 percent of the national budget, the government can declare it a natural disaster and release emergency budget funds. Enditem

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)