Sicily is feeling the heat—literally! 🌞 An intense drought has hit the island, turning once lush grain fields into dry, cracked earth. Farmers are watching in despair as their wheat, barley, and oats wilt away, and their animals wander aimlessly in search of water and food.
\"There's no hope, because it hasn't rained since May of last year,\" says farmer Salvatore Michele Amico from San Cataldo. \"All the planted fields have been lost.\"
The drought isn't just affecting crops. Rivers and ponds have dried up, leaving cows and goats thirsty. Farming equipment sits idle, and the damage is already estimated at a staggering 2.7 billion euros! 💔
The Italian government declared a state of emergency in May, trying to help by funding water trucks and drilling wells. But with the heatwave continuing, farmers like Beppe Palmieri are still facing a critical situation. \"There is no water for the animals to drink; we don't know what to do,\" he says.
Once the breadbasket of ancient Rome, Sicily's grain harvest is expected to plunge by over 50% this year. 🌾 It's a tough time for everyone on the island, and the future remains uncertain as the drought shows no signs of easing up.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
