Sicily, an island heavily reliant on agriculture, is facing one of its worst droughts in 30 years, putting livestock farmers and agricultural producers in a precarious position.

The lack of rainfall has resulted in a state of emergency, hitting livestock farmers the hardest. Over the past six months of 2023, the island received only 150mm of rain, leading to severe water shortages that jeopardise the livelihoods of many in the agricultural sector.

Donatella Vanadia, a vet and owner of an agricultural company, highlights the dire situation, explaining how the water scarcity has compromised the animals' ability to find sufficient water for their daily needs.

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"Farms that have purchased water, along with collective expenses, not only face increased production costs but also expenses for the water supply for the animals. As a result, the physiological conditions of the animals themselves are being jeopardised by this catastrophe," she says.

The drought has also significantly impacted animal feed, with hay production expected to be reduced by 60 to 70 percent this year. Consequently, cows are producing less milk, fewer offspring, and more animals are being sent to slaughter. This, Vanadia warns, will lead to the closure of many businesses as expenses have quadrupled.

The agricultural sector is also feeling the impact of the drought. In 2022, Italy was the second-largest global exporter of olive oil, but climate change has severely affected olive oil production. Tony Zappulla, an olive oil producer, recalls how his production dropped from 2000l to just 300l last year. The extreme temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns have caused significant damage to crops, with heavy rainstorms and high temperatures leading to ruined olives and reduced quality.

Experts attribute the drought to both climate change and negligence. Professor Giuseppe Luigi Cirelli from the University of Catania explains that the lack of maintenance of irrigation networks and water storage systems has exacerbated the situation. "The lack of interventions over the past 20-25 years has resulted in a significant loss of reservoir capacity. Even when we had water, in some cases, we were unable to distribute it because irrigation networks were missing or not adequate," he says. The fragmented management of water systems further complicates the issue, with multiple entities involved in water distribution and storage.

The Italian government has allocated an initial €20m to address the drought emergency, but Graziano Scardino, president of the Italian Farmers Confederation Sicily, argues that this is insufficient.

"The damages confirmed today exceed €1bn. We believe that politics must intervene to ensure serious compensations and not just regulations that remain on paper," he states. Scardino emphasises the importance of farmers in safeguarding the environment and warns that without them, Sicily could face desertification and fires.

The ongoing drought has led many young farmers to consider leaving Sicily, unable to sustain their businesses under the current conditions. Riccardo Randello, president of AGIA Sicily, expresses the urgency of the situation, calling for strong governmental action to address the comprehensive and severe water crisis. Without significant intervention, the future of livestock farming and agriculture in Sicily remains uncertain, threatening the island's economy and way of life.