The serious water shortage in our neighboring country Italy has a negative effect on rice production. Quantities produced fall and prices rise. Many varieties of rice have reached historically high prices, such as in the case of Carnaroli rice, which is up 120 percent compared to June 2021, according to data from the Chamber of Commerce of the Lombard city of Pavia.
Droughts, high energy costs and fertilizer prices have already led some companies in the Po River area to halt production, risking a double-digit drop in production from 2021, a study finds.
A scenario that will inevitably affect consumer rice prices, which rose 13.7 percent year-on-year in June. This is also due to the increase in production costs, from electricity to packaging.
Country is Europe’s largest rice producer
With 216,000 hectares of rice fields, Italy is the largest rice producer in Europe. Rice production provides employment for 10,000 families, mainly in the northern Italian regions of Lombardy, Piemonte and Veneto.
Italian wheat production is also expected to fall by 15 percent this year due to the drought, the farmers’ association Coldiretti warns. This estimated this year’s wheat crop nationally at about 6.5 billion kilograms out of a total area of 1.71 million hectares for durum and soft wheat.
Farmers are under heavy pressure
Agriculture is under threat. Water rationing and limited field irrigation are in danger of becoming commonplace, Coldiretti warned. A third of national agricultural production, mainly fruits, vegetables and grains, is at risk.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
