Drought in Sicily Worsens Dramatically, Impacting Agriculture and More

 The drought situation in Sicily continues to worsen dramatically, with devastating consequences not only for agriculture but also for other primary sectors of the island. One of the hardest-hit is livestock farming, which faces a drastic drop in turnover due to the lack of water, forcing farmers to send numerous animals to slaughter earlier than expected.

The drought has now surpassed a year without significant rainfall, leading to an unprecedented crisis for Sicilian farms. "For some months now, farmers have been sending nursing cows to slaughter, and this is the most worrying thing: it means they have decided to shut down," explains Marco Mocciaro, president of the producers' organization and the slaughterhouse in Gangi, in the province of Palermo. "Problem upon problem, as farmers and ranchers must also deal with the assault of wild pigs and deer."

Devastating Consequences for the Entire Sector

The lack of rain has reduced wheat harvests, causing the prices of fodder supplies to soar. This is creating a vicious cycle: if many farms were to fail, the demand for feed would drop significantly, with serious repercussions for Sicilian farmers. Moreover, the meat market is becoming saturated due to premature slaughtering, leading to a further drop in prices, already low due to oversupply.

The animals themselves are suffering. The shortage of fodder and early slaughtering have made them leaner than expected, reducing the value of the meat obtained. Local authorities are trying to address the situation, but even the cost of water tankers for transporting water from wells seized by mayors has increased.

Mario Cicero, mayor of Castelbuono, stated: "We need to understand what we want to do from here in twenty years, and it is clear that we need to act to reduce consumption, redo the networks, maintain the springs but above all start searching for new ones, especially deep underground."

The Water Crisis in Numbers

In the last 12 months, only 414 millimeters of rain have fallen in Sicily, compared to a historical average of 750 millimeters. The situation of the reservoirs is equally critical: currently, the available useful volume is 158.03 million cubic meters, half of the 317.45 Mm3 forecasted for the last period of 2023. Proposals for rationing continue to increase, not only in the most affected areas such as those around Agrigento but also in Palermo and Trapani.

The inefficient water network is another serious problem. In some Sicilian provinces, like Ragusa and Siracusa, water waste in pipelines exceeds 60%, further aggravating the situation.

The Alarm from Ranchers

Ranchers are warning that the chain closures of their businesses could affect the entire Sicilian agri-food sector. "Last year we already had strong signals, this year the situation has plummeted. The entire system is in great difficulty: in many areas, there has been no wheat harvest, no fodder harvest. But if livestock farming disappears, Sicilian agriculture disappears," stated agronomist and rancher Giuseppe Giaimo.

The process that risks being triggered may be irreversible. Sicilian wheat production, which primarily serves regional livestock farming, is in jeopardy. The scarcity of fodder for livestock due to this year's poor harvest is pushing many businesses beyond the brink, leading them towards closure. Even if the drought were to end in the fall, Sicilian agriculture next year would struggle to find a replacement clientele for the failed farms.

The water crisis in Sicily is not just an agricultural or livestock issue but represents a threat to the entire economic and social fabric of the region, requiring urgent and strategic interventions to avoid an even greater catastrophe.