Drought Threatens More Than 30% Of Italy’s Agricultural Produce

A farmer shows how drought has dried out his field in Milan, Italy

Italy has declared a state of emergency in five northern regions surrounding the Po River amid the worst drought in 70 years.

Emilia-Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto will be given €36.5m (£31m; $38m) in emergency funds to tackle the water shortage.

Several municipalities have already announced water rationing.

“The state of emergency is aimed at managing the current situation with extraordinary means and powers,” the Italian government said. It said it could take further measures if the situation did not improve.

Unusually hot weather and low rainfall across winter and spring have compounded water shortages in northern Italy and heightened fears about the effects of climate change.

Prime Minister Mario Draghi said climate change was “without doubt” linked to Sunday’s glacier collapse in the Dolomites, where seven people died and 13 others are missing.

The Po is Italy’s longest river, flowing eastward for more than 650km (404 miles). Farmers in the Po Valley say salty seawater is now seeping into the river, destroying crops.