Sardinia in the grip of the African heat: crops on their knees and harvest at risk
The scorching temperatures caused extensive damage to the crops especially in Campidano, Sarrabus, Gerrei, Trexenta and Marmilla. Coldiretti: "The Region declares a state of disaster"
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The African heat wave of recent days, with temperatures well above 40 degrees in many areas of the island, is not only putting a strain on the most fragile citizens, starting with the elderly, but also on crops and in particular the vineyards. And there is already massive damage.
The alarm was sounded by Coldiretti , emphasizing how the areas most affected by the harmful effects of the Charon anticyclone are those of Campidano, Sarrabus, Gerrei, Trexenta and Marmilla.
There is a long list of products of the earth suffering greatly from the high temperatures: peaches, tomatoes and, in general, all vegetables . Artichokes are, says Coldiretti, "an unknown factor, while cucumbers are almost unobtainable ".
"There is great suffering on the fields due to these heat waves that have put many crops at risk and, consequently, the earnings of many farms in Southern Sardinia - underline the president and director of Coldiretti Cagliari, Giorgio Demurtas and Luca Saba - in the next few days the damage count will be counted but already now the photograph of the fields is really worrying . Also for this reason - conclude Demurtas and Saba - we ask the Region to intervene in the state of calamity. And already in recent weeks many mayors have been declaring it at a local level, because it is an evolving situation and with very great unknowns ».
Harvests at risk, but not only: other problems arise from the fact that entrepreneurs in the fruit and vegetable sector, again due to the scorching temperatures, have had to drastically reduce working hours in the fields, which often end no later than 11 in the morning.
But heat peaks and high temperatures for a long time have not spared even the wine sector and all types of grapes , from Cannonau to Vermentino, passing through Nuragus and beyond.
«We are seriously concerned about the condition of our vines and grapes - comments Sandro Murgia of the Cantina di Dolianova - our agronomists are in the field these days to understand and quantify the damage, but the repercussions on the grapes are already evident, put in serious difficulty by the heat peaks which in our area have touched 50 degrees in the field. And even what seemed to have been saved in the last few hours is now in great pain.
(Unioneonline/lf)
