Sicily is dying

Sicily, the agricultural heartland of Italy, is facing a devastating drought crisis that is wreaking havoc on the region’s vital agricultural sector. Over the past six months, rainfall has plummeted to just 150 millimeters, a fraction of normal levels, causing reservoirs and aquifers to rapidly dry up.

Courtesy of Avvenire

Sicily, the sun-drenched island jewel of Italy, has long been the country’s agricultural backbone, producing a bounty of citrus fruits, olives, grapes, and more. But this once-verdant agricultural powerhouse is now facing an environmental crisis of epic proportions, as a devastating drought grips the region.

The numbers tell a dramatic story. Over the last six months of 2023, rainfall in Sicily plummeted to just 150 millimeters — a mere fraction of the normal levels. This dramatic drop has had a catastrophic impact on the region’s water resources, with reservoirs and aquifers, the lifeblood of Sicily’s farms and communities, rapidly drying up.

For the farmers of this sun-soaked island, the drought has been a gut punch. Losses are estimated to exceed a staggering €1 billion, as critical crops wither under the scorching sun. Citrus fruits, a signature product of Sicily, have been hit particularly hard, with yields plummeting. The olive oil industry, a point of regional pride, is also reeling, as trees struggle to produce their precious bounty. Even grain production, a…