Severe weather and fires in Sardinia: a proposed law for families and farms

The Cagliari countryside continues to suffer from the damage caused by the severe weather that struck the area in mid-August, a situation made even worse by the fires that continued to threaten businesses and families. Following calls from Coldiretti Cagliari for extraordinary measures , a first concrete response has arrived from politicians : the Brothers of Italy council group has presented a bill, with deputy group leader and mayor of Barrali, Fausto Piga, as the first signatory. The bill provides funding for affected families and farms .

"This is a step we welcome," emphasize Giorgio Demurtas and Giuseppe Casu, president and director of Coldiretti Cagliari , "because it recognizes the gravity of the situation and places the need to provide clear and rapid responses, as we have requested, at the center of regional policy. The request for streamlined bureaucratic procedures is also welcome, because resources too often remain stuck in the administrative machinery. It is, however, essential that the resources be adequate to compensate for the damage to crops and damaged structures such as greenhouses and farm shelters, and that they reach the pockets of their legitimate beneficiaries as quickly as possible: farmers, ranchers, and families already at the end of their tether."

In the days immediately following the extreme weather events—with torrential rains and hailstorms that destroyed vineyards, olive groves, fodder crops, and vegetables in the areas of Monastir, Pimentel, Barrali, Senorbì, and throughout the greater Cagliari area—Coldiretti reported extremely serious losses: crops destroyed, greenhouses and machinery damaged, fodder crops destroyed, with direct consequences for livestock. The association noted that these losses "in many cases correspond to an entire year's work and risk undermining the economic sustainability of farms in the medium term."

The proposed law , Coldiretti Cagliari emphasizes, is a step in the right direction: " We have always asked that politicians be able to guarantee concrete and rapid responses ," Demurtas and Casu continue, "and that the administrative system be put in a position to accelerate as much as possible. Our farmers and ranchers can't wait months: they need liquidity now to restart and avoid seeing the future of their businesses permanently compromised."

(Unioneonline)