The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has warned that farmers urgently need secure and reliable access to water to continue producing food for 29 million households. NFU deputy president Paul Tompkins said: "Farmers and growers have always had to contend with the weather, but what they are experiencing now is climate change in action. The NFU is calling for a series of immediate measures to address the crisis, including changes to planning regulations to make it easier for farmers to build water storage facilities. Mr Tompkins said: "There are practical steps government and the water supply chain can take now. The declaration of drought coincides with the 50th anniversary of the UK’s worst drought on record.