It will be a while before the true cost to farmers in Italy can be tallied, following devastating floods which drowned livestock and submerged crops in the region of Emilia-Romagna.
Last week, apocalyptic floods transformed parts of Emilia-Romagna into rivers. Experts say six months’ rain fell in 36 hours in this region, with at least 13 people having lost their lives and 36 000 people displaced. Thousands of volunteers have started cleanup operations.
The Confagricoltura Ravenna, a farming organisation in Italy puts the damage price tag at €6 000 (about R126 000) per hectare for arable crops like wheat, barley, corn, soybean, sunflowers, alfalfa, and other seed crops.
The cost for fruit orchards, vineyards and olive groves is more than five times higher, at €32 000 (about R672 487) per hectare.
Damage is ‘incalculable’
Coldiretti, the country’s national federation of farmers, said in a statement that the damage is “incalculable” with the most affected sector being that of fruit and vegetables.
“The slow outflow of the water left in the orchards ‘suffocates’ the roots of the trees until they rot and the risk of ruining entire plantations that will take years before becoming productive again,” the group said.
More than 5 000 farms submerged
According to Coldiretti, the true cost can only be tallied until the water recedes. The farmer federation fears thousands of livestock have drowned.
Reports suggested that there were more than 5 000 farms with nurseries, stables, and barns submerged. Coldiretti is yet to inspect farms and communities cut off by landslides.
Francesco Lollobrigida, the minister of agriculture, sent his deepest condolences to those affected by the floods.
“I express closeness and solidarity to the displaced people and I thank all those who have immediately activated themselves to give support to the population,” Lollobrigida said.
The government is ready to intervene with any necessary action and will ensure the necessary support, he said.
“To face the emergency and give immediate answers President Meloni has convened a table with ministers. The Ministero dell’agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste is at work to support farms and the world of agriculture, our nation’s primary asset.”
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