A violent hailstorm in Lower Romagna, with very violent hailstorms also today in Bagnacavallo. Agriculture is strongly affected, with Coldiretti expressing great concern about increasingly frequent natural disasters.
Coldiretti’s alarm
Bad weather has started to hit the Ravenna area again, with agriculture severely affected by hail and rain both yesterday and today. “Exactly one year after the devastating flood that hit Romagna – we read in a note from Legacoop Romagna – extreme climatic events are once again instilling fear in the fields. Yesterday, Tuesday 15 May, a violent hailstorm and torrential rain caused extensive damage to crops and agricultural facilities. The report on the damage to agricultural worker cooperatives in the province of Ravenna is evolving, because unfortunately the weather forecast for the next few hours is not positive.
The Land Cab was the most affected, particularly in the north-west area of Ravenna, which includes the localities of Santerno, Piangipane, Camerlona and Sant’Antonio. At least 800 hectares of land were overwhelmed by water and hail, with the production of peaches, pears and tomatoes completely eliminated. Vineyards, cereals and chicory have also been compromised. An overall damage to production is estimated at around one million euros, with consequent negative employment impacts in the fruit and vegetable sector.
Agrisfera, despite not having suffered from the hail, is evaluating the impact of the intense rains on laid tomatoes and cereals. Cab Fusignano suffered heavy damage from wind and rain, which knocked the durum wheat and barley to the ground; the entity is under evaluation.
Also there Cab Bagnacavallo suffered losses on approximately 25% of the production in the 300 hectares affected, with hail on peaches and apricots towards Villa Prati and Boncellino, while the wheat was laid down. A more precise assessment will only be possible after the water has been withdrawn. Cab Campiano in turn reported a negative situation, with peach production likely to be destined for waste and damage to tomatoes and wheat which have yet to be fully assessed. In this case approximately 27 hectares of land were affected,”
«In the face of climate change – he says the president of Legacoop Romagna, Paolo Lucchi — farmers are on the front line. The sector is already tested by the climatic adversities of recent years and by the slowness with which the compensation machine is moving. Insurance taken out independently is not enough. Never before have we needed certain and quick responses from the Government. Science tells us that these phenomena must now be considered structural: buffer measures are not enough, stable support is needed to intervene with the necessary measures to defend production.” (Video from Sei di Bagnacavallo if…)
