Severe heatwave devastates rice fields in northern Italy
Summer arrived early and brutally in Europe's most important rice-growing region, leaving farmers in Italy's Pavia province struggling to save their crops. Sharon Angoli, a 22-year-old farmer, surveyed her desolate paddy field in Torre Beretti, about 60 kilometers south of Milan, where weeds have taken over due to extreme drought. "That one is done for, no matter what happens," she said, pointing to a field baked by one of the most severe heatwaves to hit the continent in June. Even abundant rains for the rest of the summer would probably not save the crop, she added.
Farmers fear repeat of 2022 drought
Sharon and her father Carlo Angoli also worry about their other fields, which should be harvested in September. "We need about 50 millimeters (two inches) of rain, but without hail," Carlo said, adding jokingly, "Or a big hailstorm in September and then the insurance will reimburse us." Pavia is at the heart of Italy's rice-making industry, producing nearly five million tons of grain annually. However, insufficient spring rain has left farmers despondent.
Temperatures have risen above 30°C, forcing Sharon to restrict irrigation. One of their fields, used to produce rice for sushi, has not been flooded, and weeds are thriving. Some recent rain brought temporary relief, but forecasts predict another two weeks of high temperatures. Carlo described the conditions as "ideal for going to the beach."
Waterways in critical condition
The Po River Authority (ADBPO) warned on Friday that several waterways in northern Italy, from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea, are in a "critical situation" due to drought. Lakes are being drained to feed the Po and its tributaries, but reserves could run out within weeks at the current rate. The province, at the foot of the Apennine mountains, usually enjoys abundant rain, but this year the rice fields, normally lush green in June, are parched.
Neighbor Nicola Valdi, 55, explained the importance of water during the rice's "critical phase" of growth, when it must not absorb too much toxic cadmium. "A healthy plant would have 70 to 80 grains. This one will produce 10," she said, pointing to a shriveled shoot.
Water disputes among farmers
The water shortage has sparked conflicts. Farmers in Lombardy, which includes Pavia, accuse those in neighboring Piedmont of using too much water. Meanwhile, farmers in the Po delta blame upstream users for leaving them with insufficient supply. The June heatwave that swept Europe would have been "virtually impossible without climate change," according to climatologists from World Weather Attribution.
Italian farmers say the crisis was foreseeable. Silvia Garavaglia, head of the local Coldiretti farmers union, said they have been pressing for 20 years to improve winter water collection. The Legambiente non-government group noted that agricultural engineering has not kept pace with climate change and called for a transformation in farming practices. Lorenzo Baio, head of water resources for Legambiente Lombardy, urged efforts "to mitigate the summer peak in water demand," including reducing corn production and changing water management for rice fields to flood them in spring.
Valdi has planted some wheat and soybeans, but they also suffer from lack of water. "And they don't pay as well as rice," she added. On the Piedmont side of the valley, near Vercelli, farmers are "very worried," according to Roberto Guerrini, 55, head of the local Coldiretti branch. "For now, we've managed to help everyone. We rotate the water among our rice paddies. But if the water doesn't arrive within a week or 10 days, we are going to lose crops," said Guerrini, who produces risotto rice.
