Rice fields can also dry out by mass

By: Trademagazin Date: 2022. 08. 15. 10:35

The rice fields are also drying up in the Pó river valley, which is already threatening the cultivation of risotto rice this year.

The current drought may affect rice cultivation for years, as it not only makes the lands bone dry, but also raises their salinity to a dangerously high level.

“The situation is tragic, we are talking about a loss of almost 60 percent, and these are not yet the final figures. The enormous heat is also a problem”

– said rice farmer Elisa Moretto to Euronews.

In his opinion, this year’s crop is in great danger, there will be lands where rice will not even ripen this year.

It is hot and dry

In the largest Italian river, the water flow per minute was only 95 cubic meters in July, which is a tenth of the annual average. Drought caused by melting snow and lack of rain has almost wiped the Po off the map, and current events could have long-term effects on agriculture, according to Moretto.

“It’s a big problem that if salt remains on the ground, we risk losing future crops, because a salty field will not produce crops, it will burn any plants and crops. In addition to the short-term damage, we also have to deal with everything that may await us in the future “

– he said.