Wheat fields destroyed – plague of locusts hits farmers in Sardinia

The locusts hatched en masse from their eggs. “Locusts destroy the crops of an entire field, destroying months of work and investment like a fire. Natural methods such as plowing the fields and using insects to control the locusts are the most effective methods against the locust plague,” said representatives of the Italian farmers’ association Coldiretti.

They said the animals had already destroyed seeds on several acres of land on Monday. Fields and gardens are littered with them and the damage is enormous. If the locusts destroyed 60,000 acres last year, it could even be 100,000 acres this year, it was said. The background would be the sudden increase in temperature in Sardinia.

heat and drought
Italy experienced the warmest year since the beginning of last year. In Sardinia it is usually mid-May at the latest, with big steps towards summer, and from June at the latest there is little rain. To deal with growing water shortages across the country, the government recently appointed a special commissioner to deal with drought and drought. It is intended to optimize and accelerate water management. At the beginning of April, it was decided to renew dilapidated water pipes, among other things.

In some areas, more than 50 percent of water was lost to leaks, making Italy even more vulnerable to drought. Rainwater collection tanks and more reuse of treated wastewater are also planned.