"The initial estimate of the damage caused by the devastating fires of the last few days risks exceeding 10 million euros, and we're only in mid-July."
Coldiretti Sardegna states this in a note, urging "an immediate response from regional politics because there is no time to waste" .
After an initial survey of the areas devastated by the fires that have hit much of the island in recent days, the association emphasizes, "a still partial picture emerges, destined to be updated in the coming days as inspections continue, but already sufficient to outline an emergency of such magnitude that it requires an immediate response for the regional agricultural and livestock system."
In this situation, Coldiretti Sardegna is calling for the upcoming Budget Adjustment, which will be discussed by the Regional Council in the coming days, to become the first concrete tool for responding to the affected businesses. This involves allocating extraordinary resources to cover the damage suffered by strengthening the SRD06 measure - Investments for the prevention and restoration of agricultural production potential, provided for by the Regional Rural Development Complement implementing the 2023-2027 CAP. This measure also requires the activation of a regional task force to support businesses in managing the emergency and in the subsequent recovery phase.
"Companies cannot wait," says Coldiretti Sardinia President Battista Cualbu . "The initial assessments present a very grim picture, and there's a real risk that the bill will exceed €10 million. The CSR measure represents a fundamental tool for restoring agricultural businesses' production potential, but it needs to be strengthened with new regional resources." This is why, adds Coldiretti Sardinia Director Luca Saba , "we are asking the Region and the Regional Council to send an immediate signal, using the budget adjustment to find the resources needed to support businesses that have lost facilities, production, pastures, animals, and fodder. We cannot leave agricultural entrepreneurs alone in such a difficult time." Among other tools, the need to activate an operational task force capable of accelerating assessments, supporting businesses through procedures, and minimizing intervention times is being reiterated.
In recent days, the fires have not spared any island territory, confirming that the emergency now affects the entire region. Initial reports indicate thousands of hectares of pastures and crops have gone up in smoke, farms have been severely damaged, warehouses and company structures have been destroyed, forage stocks have been completely burned, sheep and cattle farms have been affected, with the loss of numerous animals, and severe damage has also been caused to the beekeeping sector, where many farms have seen their hives destroyed and entire productions compromised. According to the latest findings from the Forestry Corps and the Region, approximately 1,200 fires have occurred to date (670 in June alone), with over 5,000 hectares up in smoke, a 25% increase over the ten-year average.
(Unioneonline/lf)