Photo by AFP
Tomato production in Italy is down by 25% because of the recent heatwave, reports the Independent.
In what the Italian farming union Coldiretti calls a “tomato massacre” , the sudden high temperatures have caused the plants to become “stressed” and, at above 30 Celsius, irrigation does not solve the problem. Tomato plants in some parts of Italy had already been weakened by torrential rain in June.
Average tomato production is down from 80,000 to 60, 000 kilograms per hectare. This is a disaster for tomato farmers because their profit margins are already low. The worst-hit areas are the north-east and central west, reports Coldiretti.
Milk production has also been affected by the heat as cows have become stressed. Like people, says Coldiretti, cows feel the heat more in humid conditions and they are currently yielding up to 15% less milk than is normal.
Air conditioners and fans have been installed in cowsheds and special feed containing potassium is being used to help the cows. All this, of course, adds to dairy farmers’ costs.
On Friday thousands of farmers demonstrated against the Italian government’s austerity measures, which will affect their subsidies, and asked for government help.
