# Sicilian agricultural sector crisis and water management

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sicilian-agricultural-sector-crisis
> Updated: 2026-09-04T05:00:00.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 4.

Agricultural sectors in Sicily continue to face severe economic and environmental challenges. In the Valle del Belice, durum wheat farmers are experiencing a crisis due to prices dropping to between 19 and 22 cents per kilogram. Local officials, including Poggioreale Mayor Carmelo Palermo, have described the situation as a ‘real looting’ of farmers, as production costs are no longer covered. This has led to an increase in uncultivated land and a shift toward using agricultural properties for photovoltaic installations.

Newer reports indicate the economic gap for wheat producers is widening. Giuseppe Catania, the Councilor for Productive Activities and Agriculture for the Municipality of Mussomeli, has called for urgent regional budget variations to address a gap where production costs reach 0.31 euros per kilogram while farmers receive only between 0.18 and 0.20 euros. Catania is requesting extraordinary interventions, including immediate compensation and income support, to prevent the abandonment of cereal cultivation.

Simultaneously, the viticulture industry in Trapani is struggling with low yields and high management costs due to drought and heatwaves. The citrus sector in Ribera also faces significant threats from extreme heat and water shortages. These water management issues have extended to the Ancipa Dam, where regional deputy Fabio Venezia has filed an urgent parliamentary inquiry. Following reports of large-scale water transfers, Venezia is seeking official data on reservoir volumes and clarification regarding the use of 4 million cubic meters of water previously authorized for irrigation.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-04: Sicily faces urgent wheat crisis and water management inquiries

Sicilian officials are calling for urgent regional action to address a durum wheat economic crisis and seeking transparency regarding water withdrawals from the Ancipa Dam.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sicily-faces-urgent-wheat-crisis-and-water-management-inquiries

### 2026-08-31: Ribera citrus farmers warn of 5 million euro loss due to drought

Citrus farmers in Ribera, Sicily, warn of up to 5 million euros in damages due to extreme heat and water shortages, threatening the quality and yield of Ribera DOP orange production.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ribera-citrus-farmers-warn-of-5-million-euro-loss-due-to-drought

### 2026-08-27: Sicily viticulture faces crisis from low yields and drought

Sicily's viticulture sector faces a crisis due to low yields, high management costs, and drought, prompting calls for structural government intervention to prevent agricultural desertification.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sicily-viticulture-faces-crisis-from-low-yields-and-drought

### 2026-08-14: Sicilian farmers face crisis as durum wheat prices drop to 19 cents per kilo

Sicilian officials warn of an agricultural crisis as durum wheat prices drop to 19-22 cents per kilo, causing production losses and the abandonment of farmland in the Valle del Belice.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sicilian-farmers-face-crisis-as-durum-wheat-prices-drop-to-19-cents-per-kilo

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Cite as: Sicilian agricultural sector crisis and water management. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sicilian-agricultural-sector-crisis