Once again Emilia Romagna experienced severe weather conditions, with heavy rainfall and hailstorms causing significant damage in the Bologna, Forlì, and Cesena areas. Unprotected vegetable and fruit trees were particularly affected.
A local agriculture organization expressed concern about the ongoing struggles faced by growers. He stated that the relentless nature of these weather events is having a toll on us. Yesterday, we had to deal with frost, flooding, and hailstorms today. It’s becoming increasingly unpredictable what tomorrow might bring . Preliminary field assessments indicate a severe situation, with some farmers facing complete crop losses and others losing their homes due to the floods from the previous week.
The floods in the first week of May caused extensive devastation in the Romagna region. Landslides were reported in hilly areas around Ravenna and Forlì-Cesena, while floods on the plains disrupted farm access, destroyed roads, wiped out crops, and flooded residential and agricultural structures. Orchards, vineyards, and vehicles also suffered damage.
The association emphasized that the exceptional nature of recent weather events, including droughts, hailstorms, late frosts, and floods, poses a significant threat to the horticultural sector and related industries. Urgent government assistance is needed to compensate for the damages and support the necessary infrastructure rebuilding for individuals, communities, and farms. Streamlining bureaucratic procedures is crucial to avoid delays and ensure prompt intervention.
The importance of adhering to technical guidelines for riverbed cleaning instead of relying on ideological or ecological considerations is considered important. Proper maintenance of riverbeds facilitates water flow and reduces the environmental impact of floods, which outweighs any potential risks associated with routine cleaning practices.
Source: freshplaza , Photo https://www.pexels.com/photo/flooded-cropland-6225834/
18 May 2023
