Italy's Historic Drought , Impacts Farmers , and Food Production .
Last week, Italy declared a state
of emergency in five of its northern regions
amid the worst drought in 70 years. .
Al Jazeera reports that Italian farmers' confederation
Coldiretti estimates the drought has caused
$3 billion dollars worth of damage to agriculture.
According to Italy’s agriculture
ministry, a third of the national
agricultural output was at risk.
While speaking to the country's parliament,
the agriculture minister also warned that the
situation is expected to get worse in the years to come.
Italy's northern lakes and rivers have reached
historical lows after meager Alpine snowfall
and nearly no precipitation in spring. .
Al Jazeera reports that Italy's northern regions produce 40% of the country's agricultural output.
The ongoing drought
threatens to cut
that output in half.
The government has allocated
$36.5 million in emergency aid to be
distributed among five regional institutions.
However, Al Jazeera reports
that it may take years before
those funds are distributed.
Meanwhile, the European Milk Board (EMB) has warned
that dairy farms across the continent are facing an "extreme rise" in costs for energy, fertilizers and feed. .
Al Jazeera reports that Italy's water crisis is not
an isolated one, with similar situations reported across
the continent due to an extreme lack of precipitation. .
Al Jazeera reports that Italy's water crisis is not
an isolated one, with similar situations reported across
the continent due to an extreme lack of precipitation.