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Drought forces historic village to slow harvests and celebrations
Drought affects agriculture in the Village historique acadien in Bertrand; Visitors defied the challenges of the crisis.
Drought forces historic village to slow harvests and celebrations
The sunny summer weather has its downsides in the Village historique acadien in Bertrand on the Péninsule acadienne. For over 30 days, the charming village has been suffering from a massive drought, which has significantly affected not only the gardens but also the grain harvest. Director Sylvain Godin announced that these climatic challenges have slowed down operations in the village, negatively impacting the visitor experience. Of particular note, during this dry period, both cooking and blacksmithing activities had to stop, and there is a ban on fireplaces across the province, as ici.radio-canada.ca reports.
Despite the difficult circumstances, many visitors found their way to the traditional agricultural fair last Saturday. The event featured exciting attractions such as an animal auction, children's activities and performances in the historic homes, including a wrestling gala. In particular, the international group of student visitors, including the Dutchman Ruben Jacobs, took advantage of the opportunity to learn more about Acadian history. Visitors such as Denis Pelletier and François Paulin were enthusiastic about the animals and the history of the place. Sylvianne Landry, a dedicated gardener in the village, was concerned to note that this year's harvests were significantly smaller and smaller.
Wave of drought and its effects
Droughts are not an unknown phenomenon in Canada. Various regions, especially the prairies, repeatedly have to contend with such extremes. However, this year's drought is particularly worrying as it severely limits agricultural productivity. According to a study by donneesclimatiques.ca, droughts can be classified into different categories – meteorological, agricultural, hydrological and socio-economic. Meteorological droughts are defined by their intensity and duration, while agricultural droughts directly affect crop yields.
The impacts of drought are far-reaching and can have a significant impact on a country's food security and economy. Especially in years of extreme drought, yields decline while the supply of water for irrigation and other purposes decreases. This has been observed in the past during the drought years of 1961, 1985 and 1988, which had the lowest average wheat yields in the Saskatchewan region.
The agricultural fair is currently very popular until Sunday and offers visitors the opportunity to experience the local culture up close. While difficult weather conditions reduce harvests, the spirit and joy of the community remains vibrant.