Drought scorches Italy’s rice belt as water supplies hit record lows

A farmer in Italy's rice belt, near Pavia, describes the devastating impact of a prolonged drought on his crops. Giuseppe Tagliabue's estate, part of the Po Valley, faces water shortages that have forced him to make difficult decisions to save his harvest. The Po River Basin Authority has issued a high level of drought severity, warning that Alpine lakes are running low.

Lake Maggiore is classified as being in extreme drought conditions, and water levels in the Po have hit a record low. To cope, farmers have adopted an unprecedented rotation system, alternating water access in different sections. However, this system may not be sufficient to prevent financial losses. The Pavia rice sector could lose over €100 million due to the drought, rising production costs, and falling paddy rice prices.

Farmers are considering reviving traditional practices like winter flooding, but this may not be enough to overcome the effects of climate change. The region's reliance on limited rainfall and existing reservoirs poses challenges for finding a sustainable solution. For Tagliabue, who has run his family's rice farm for three generations, saving his estate remains the top priority, despite the challenges.