Ribera citrus farmers warn of 5 million euro loss due to drought

The citrus farming sector in the Ribera region of Sicily is facing a severe crisis, with estimated damages potentially reaching 5 million euros. Local agricultural organizations, including the Liberi Agricoltori association and the Comitato Pro-Verdura, report that extreme heat and significant water shortages are threatening the upcoming production of Ribera DOP oranges.

Farmers attribute the crisis to a combination of temperatures exceeding 40-45 degrees Celsius and inadequate irrigation. Water distribution has been hampered by frequent breaks in a 40-year-old main pipeline that transports water from the Castello di Bivona dam and the Gammauta basin. These technical failures, alongside insufficient water allotments, have placed citrus groves under intense stress.

Producers warn that the quality and quantity of the harvest from November to March could be drastically reduced. While average yields previously reached approximately 500 quintals per hectare, current estimates suggest production could fall to less than half of those levels. The lack of water has also resulted in smaller fruit sizes, which negatively impacts market prices.