Lcereal countryside in the Foggiano area is now on its last legs. There are few wheat fields yet to be threshed. This morning in Ordona, aboard one of the many combine harvesters in the area, we took stock with CREA and Coldiretti.
“Wheat production in Puglia – he says Mario De Matteo, presidents of Coldiretti Foggia – is estimated to be down 40-45% this year due to the prolonged drought that has gripped the entire region for months, causing yields to be cut, but the quality is extraordinary with an average of 85 specific weight and 14 of proteins, reasons why fair remuneration must be recognized for a high quality product”. De Matteo’s appeal is “always buy made in Italy”.
Meanwhile, Turkey has announced a ban on the import of foreign wheat starting from 21 June 2024 until mid-October 2024, while in the first 2 months of 2024 alone it exported 35 million kilos of durum wheat, almost the same quantity recorded in total 2022.
“Turkey’s decision was motivated by the desire to protect national production from decreases in producer prices during the harvest period. The measure has a significant impact on wheat exports from Russia which is Turkey’s main supplier. Effects are also expected on the European market considering that Turkey has been accused of carrying out triangulations in the trade of wheat from Russia on which the European Union has imposed increased duties starting from next July 1st”.
“The cereal year ended with low average yields – the words of Pasquale De Vita of Crea -. The quality, however, is excellent. The lack of production is also due to the climate trend, we didn’t have a winter. The plant has really set itself up to produce little. We cannot think of this province without durum wheat.”
