BRUSSELS, Sept 29 (Bernama-dpa) -- Extreme heat, drought and wildfires across Europe this summer have caused an estimated €14 billion to €17 billion (US$16 billion to US$19.3 billion) in damage to the European Union's agricultural sector, EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen said on Monday.
The full extent of the losses would only become clear once the harvest was completed, Hansen said following a meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Brussels, reported German news agency dpa.
Among the problems facing farmers was a shortage of grass for animal feed due to dry conditions, putting additional pressure on livestock producers.
Hansen called for greater investment in water storage as well as more precise irrigation methods to reduce water consumption.
The Luxembourg politician also advocated mandatory insurance to protect farmers from losses, saying such coverage was also important for encouraging investment.
Only 12 per cent of agricultural production in the EU is currently insured against damage, according to Hansen.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans for a European water initiative in her State of the Union address two weeks ago and pledged to address gaps in insurance coverage for farmers.
In Germany, the grain harvest fell by 7.3 per cent compared with the previous year, according to the country's harvest assessment.
--BERNAMA-dpa