Apulian agriculture is facing a critical situation with the continuous increase in production costs. Coldiretti Puglia, in collaboration with the Bank of Italy, has confirmed that production costs in the fields continue to grow, putting at risk the sustainability of agricultural activities in the region. According to preliminary data from Istat, a growth in costs was recorded in 2023, albeit with less intensity than in 2022.
Despite adverse weather conditions and a complex international context, the Apulian agri-food sector has seen a 24% increase in Gross Saleable Production, reaching almost 4 billion euros. This result was achieved thanks to the excellent performance of the olive and oil sector and fruit and vegetables, which have compensated for the 34% loss in production quantities.
The olive sector showed a 50% increase in the olive harvest compared to the previous year, counteracting the negative trend at a national and global level. This led to an increase in extra virgin olive oil prices by 49.3%. Fruit and vegetables also recorded good results, with an increase in the value of table grapes, despite the drop in quantities. However, the reduction in quantities produced has meant that average prices in the countryside have improved compared to previous years.
On the contrary, the wine sector has suffered heavily due to extreme weather events and blight attacks. The 2023 harvest has seen an average drop of 32% in quantities, with peaks of 90% in some areas. Furthermore, the increase in the cost of glass for bottles has reached 58% in 18 months, threatening the competitiveness of Italian wine both nationally and internationally.
In this context, Coldiretti Puglia underlines the importance of increasing the funds allocated to agri-food in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) to support the entire supply chain. Only with adequate financial support will it be possible to guarantee the sustainability of the sector and a fairer distribution of value from producer to consumer.
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