Drought hits rice production in Italy

Published 2023년 3월 27일

Tridge summary

Italy, the EU's largest rice producer, is planning to plant the smallest rice crop in 23 years due to two consecutive years of drought. The country is expected to sow no more than 211,000 hectares in 2023, marking a decrease of 7,400 hectares from 2022 and 16,000 hectares from 2021. The drought has significantly reduced soil moisture levels and the snowfall in the Italian Alps this year is lower than the previous year. As a result, the sowing season, which begins in April, could face challenges in maintaining the required water levels for rice cultivation. This could potentially decrease Italy's rice production, which accounts for half of the EU's rice production, and could also impact the production of unique rice varieties like Arborio and Carnaroli that are essential for risotto.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Italy, the biggest rice producer in the European Union (EU), will plant its smallest area for the crop in 23 years, as it faces a second year of drought, warn agricultural observers. Roberto Magnaghi, director general of Ente Nazionale Risi, a public rice research body, told Reuters that no more than 211,000 hectares will be sown with rice in 2023. The 2023 estimate is down 7,400 hectares from 2022 and 16,000 from in relation to 2021. Italy is responsible for around half of the EU's rice production. According to the European Commission, Italy produced 714,000 tonnes of milled rice equivalent in 2022, significantly down from 886,000 tonnes in 2021. Italian rice is mainly grown in the northern regions of Lombardy. Italy is the world's only producer of types such as Arborio and Carnaroli that are better suited to the popular Italian dish risotto. The sowing season begins in April, when farmers plant the seeds in puddles 30 to 40 centimeters deep. These must then be constantly watered ...

Source: Agrolink