HIBAPRESS – A. Mahyaoui
The Tijma area, belonging to the Kikou territorial community in Boulemane province, witnessed a strong thunderstorm on Tuesday evening, characterized by heavy rainfall and intense hailstorms, which caused limited damage to the local agricultural sector, according to official data.
In this context, and by instructions from the governor of Boulemane province, a joint committee arrived at the scene on Wednesday morning, April 29, headed by the head of the Boulemane district, and in the presence of representatives of the local and security authorities, as well as the rural affairs services, the regional directorate of agriculture, the agricultural chamber, the anti-hail association, and representatives of the farmers. The field inspection enabled the assessment of the registered damages, where it became clear that about 30 hectares of onion and garlic crops were damaged, with the impact on about 20 farmers. In contrast, the committee did not record any losses at the level of forage crops or the rest of the crops. The committee also noted the death of a number of young sheep as a result of the storm's intensity, in an incident that reflects the direct impact of harsh climatic conditions on the animal wealth in the region. Despite these losses, the recorded damages were considered relatively minor, which the committee attributed to the effectiveness of the anti-hail mechanisms available in the region, represented by two units that contributed to mitigating the severity of the phenomenon. At the end of its visit, the committee recommended the need to strengthen the agricultural protection system by expanding the scope of coverage, by establishing additional anti-hail stations, in addition to the rehabilitation and maintenance of non-ready stations, in a way that ensures better protection for agricultural crops in the future, especially in light of the increasing climate fluctuations.
