Thousands of drought-hit farmers in Poland will be compensated for crop losses, thanks to an emergency aid package announced by its government. Polish farmers have lost an estimated 800,000ha (2m acres) of crops and fodder after temperatures soared to 38C in July and remained high in August. As a result of the unusual dry spell, large swathes of combinable crops and pasture have been lost. More than 100,000 farms in the country have reported crops losses of 30% and above, triggering the emergency response from the government. The worst-hit areas include Mazovia, mid-western Wielkopolska, north-eastern Podlasie and the mid-eastern Lublin region. The Polish government has announced a compensation package of 500m zlotys (£86m) for thousands of growers affected by the drought. The plan includes preferential loans and tax cuts. The government has also applied to the European Commission for assistance, with a decision expected on 7 September at an EU meeting of agriculture ministers in Brussels. The drought has dealt a bitter blow to Polish farmers, who like many European farmers have been struggling with low prices, over-regulation in the EU and the impact of the Russian ban on Western food imports. Farmers in other countries in central and eastern Europe, including Romania, have also suffered serious crop losses. Source - http://www.fwi.co.uk