Desperate solutions on the fields of southern Oltenia. Lit fires to prevent haze but with the wind can't fight

Dozens of farmers in the south of Dolj County have gathered in the last nights and lit fires in the field, in the hope that they will create a smoke curtain that will prevent the haze from sitting on the crops, although they are aware that the method is too effective. For the strong wind they did not find solutions.

The last nights gave the farmers in the south of the country, and the danger is planning.

Encouraged by the spring weather of last week, they set up potato crops in the field and, protected with foil, even the melons “at the tunnel”. Then the snow came unexpectedly, and the farmers know that after the snow the frost is left. In the solariums were white nights, the thermal power plants being permanently fed so as not to compromise the harvest. Part began to harvest tomatoes, other vegetable growers were preparing to do so. Near the market were the strawberries. After that the time came from which they did not understand anything, passing in one day, the farmers say, through three seasons.

Farmers make efforts to protect their photo frost crops: Truth

Those who have cultures in the field are the most uneasy, because they do not have much solutions. They decided to form a curtain of smoke that would prevent deposit of the haze, so they lit the fires from place to place, maintaining them with what they had at hand.

The wind to take up the foil that protects their photo crops: collage fb./sorin Sandu

After the cold nights, however, days with crazy wind came, which shattered everything he finds in the way. In Călărași, in Dolj, several photos posted by the mayor of the locality, in which large pieces of foil are caught like huge kite, show phenomena that people cannot master.

And what was worse is to come, when it comes to the wind, as the warnings of meteorologists show. The counties of Olt, Dolj and Mehedinți are, along with several of other areas of the country, under warning orange code, on Thursday, April 10, 2025. The bursts will reach 70 … 90 km/h, and in the higher areas there will be visual snow, with the reduction of visibility. Farmers say that this time they can not be put with nature, because they are just waiting to pass the hours and their area to get out of warning, and in the end they will evaluate the effects.

How was it after the first snow

Since the beginning of the week, since the temperatures have dropped below the frost threshold, the vegetables make white nights. In the solariums it provides fuel in the boilers, and in the field they light fires, hoping that it prevents leaving the haze on crops.

“We try, we hope to go. We were forecast, we covered with foil, although we did not expect the temperatures to be negative”, I say farmers from Calarasi, Dolj. You can see fiery fires in the neighboring localities, the method by which it tries to diminish the damage being an old and quite widespread in the area.

“We try to protect as much as possible. We have to wake up more at night, come, light the fires, stay carefully at them. It was in the spring, so, frost, after which the temperatures had gone, now the cold came again. With the fires we try to portray the haze, but with the frost we have nothing to do ”, explains a local.

Farmers hope that melons protected with foil will escape well, but they will only see this after the danger of frost passes.

“At the tunnel, at the lubenita, it was the temperature of 1 degree Celsius, I have a thermometer there. It looked 1.2, and outside were minus 5 degrees. It's early, but you can't put it later, if you go out with them late … “, Another farmer responds, explaining why they were in a hurry to set up crops. “This time is very dangerous. No one believed to come like this. When cold, when temperatures of 25 degrees. Just as it is worse. The plant gives, then the cold, and stagnates, does not allow it to develop. Before it was the cold to a certain period and then it was the heat. Following comes the cold. We go out earlier, but much smaller. They make them big, exaggerated. They have contracts, they have … we, we also look to sell through the neighboring markets ”completes the farmer. The farmers are not afraid, but the frost that comes after, say the vegetables.

The changes that have been trying for a few years could cause them to give up the crops of the extract. “We also look to remove early and sell with price. But what investment is, a frost like this … you get a lot of money and a sting comes”finds another vegetable.

“We will draw a line over two or three days”

What is happening now with the weather is a climate accident, says Aurelia Diaconu, agronomist engineer, head of the Dăbuleni research resort. People are trying to reduce losses, but the method, which was used in the past, has an effect in the case of the haze and especially in the orchards, not on the large surfaces, in the field.

“In the weather you do not put yourself,” say farmers who are looking for photo solutions: Colaj Adevarul/FB

“The fires are practiced on the fruit trees, located in the flowering phenophase. More at the haze, at the frost you can not hold in the brake. Fire is made and under the trees, but at large plots you can not say that the problem. We will see, we do not see after the first day. (-) 4 degrees Celsius, and at night to have (-) 1, which come and emphasize the effect Effects, even if we had new protective measures, and the farmers in the area ”said Diaconu.

Vegetables have lit fires in the field to prevent the photo of the photo: Adevărul

The early potato planted in the field may be affected, especially the young, less hot leaves. Effects of this kind will be in the entire area where for many years potatoes are cultivated from extracting and early varieties. These are the localities of Mârșani, Călărași, Dăbuleni, where the farmers found that ice was formed on the solariums, having to start the power stations to ensure positive temperatures.

“They let go of the cannons. They have in solariums and tomatoes, and corn, strawberries, even potatoes. They put on an additional protection of Agril. They also put an additional foil in the field to save something. (…) At this moment we could not say a clear percentage (n. Red.-of affect). But, we will draw a line over two to three days, unfortunately ”, said Ing. Aurelia Diaconu