Wild boar outbreaks threaten agriculture in Italy's Calabria and Abruzzo

Farmers' groups in southern Italy warn that escalating wild boar populations are endangering key crops. In the Sila region of Calabria, Coldiretti highlighted a severe risk to the IGP‑protected potato crop, describing the situation as a structural emergency that could jeopardise the livelihood of local farms. The association criticised the limited rollout of the 2024 extraordinary boar‑control plan, urging immediate activation of farmer‑hunter teams, deployment of capture cages, and stronger coordination among regional authorities, the Sila National Park and hunting agencies.

In Abruzzo, the hunting organization CIA similarly flagged growing damage to agricultural land, noting that regional harvest‑selection targets have not been met. The group called for stricter application of local wildlife‑management rules, tighter cooperation between the region, agricultural councils and hunting bodies, and more effective on‑the‑ground actions to restore a sustainable balance between farming and wildlife.

Both organisations stress that without prompt, coordinated measures the boar surge could cause significant economic losses and threaten the stability of agricultural production in the affected Italian regions.