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Slovak fruit growers to use technology to save crops from cold weather

Xinhua, April 19, 2017 Adjust font size:

Fruit growers in Slovakia are facing extremely cold weather this week and are set to pull out all the stops in an effort to save their crops, Slovak Agriculture and Food Chamber spokesperson Jana Holeciova announced Wednesday.

"Between 800 and 1,000 people will work in orchards during the next two nights. In order to save their promising crops, fruit growers will deploy new devices for the first time -- fog-generating equipment," stressed Holeciova. In order to further increase the level of protection, farmers are going to use anti-frost drip irrigation, but the method requires large quantities of water.

For the time being, fruit growers aren't talking about losses.

"We'll focus on protecting our crops, because we're expecting a couple of high-risk nights. We'll do anything to protect the promising crops," said Holeciova.

Slovak Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Gabriela Matecna warned wine and fruit growers of a crop-killing chill expected this week. According to Holeciova, damage incurred during late April frosts in 2016 cost Slovak fruit growers a total of 16 million euros (17.2 million U.S. dollars). Endit