The extreme heat and year-long drought in Sicily have left farmers anxious about the future of agriculture on the island. Record-high temperatures and almost no rain have led to severe water shortages and a 70% decrease in fodder production. This has forced some farmers to consider selling their animals due to a lack of water and food. Local water basins are almost empty, with strict water rationing in place, but the high temperatures have increased the demand for water, leaving farmers struggling to keep their livestock hydrated.
Farmers like Liborio Mangiapane, a cheese maker in Sicily, are feeling the impact of the drought firsthand. The water reservoir near his farm, which usually provides water for his 100 cows and 150 sheep, is almost empty. Despite efforts to bring in water, the extreme heat means the water supply diminishes quickly, leaving animals at risk of dehydration. In Caltanissetta, a province hit hardest by the drought, lakes have dried up to mere puddles, making grazing-based farming impossible for local farmers like Luca Cammarata.
The lack of a strong government response to the crisis has left many Sicilian farmers feeling frustrated. Mangiapane criticizes both the regional and national government for failing to take decisive action to address the dire situation. However, the national government declared a state of emergency for drought in Sicily in May and allocated funds to buy water tankers, dig new wells, and repair leaky aqueducts. Farmers are calling on authorities to implement long-term solutions to adapt to the reality of climate change, rather than relying on short-term fixes to address the pressing crisis.
Sicilian farmers are urging the government to implement measures to cope with the new normal of extreme heat and frequent droughts. Giulio Boccaletti, from the Euro-Mediterranean centre on climate change, emphasizes the importance of using water efficiently and making decisions about what crops to grow to maximize water usage. More efficient aqueducts and reservoirs, as well as new deep wells, are needed to collect rainwater effectively and make Sicily more self-sufficient in terms of water usage. The changing climate calls for a shift in agricultural practices to ensure sustainability in the face of ongoing water scarcity.
The current situation in Sicily serves as a wake-up call for the government to take action to address the challenges posed by climate change. Farmers are hoping for long-term solutions that will help them adapt to the new normal of extreme heat and drought. By investing in infrastructure to improve water collection and distribution, Sicilian farmers can better cope with the changing climate and ensure the sustainability of agriculture on the island. The resilience of Sicilian farmers in the face of these challenges highlights the need for proactive measures to protect the future of agriculture in the region.
