Summer came too early to Europe’s most important rice-growing region, and weeds are taking over Sharon Angoli’s parched paddies in Italy’s Pavia province.
“That one is done for, no matter what happens,” the 22-year-old said as she surveyed one desolate field that has been baked by what is among the most severe heatwaves to hit the continent in June.
Even abundant rains for the rest of the summer would probably not save the crop, she said. Angoli and her father, Carlo, also fear for their other fields at Torre Beretti, about 60 kilometres (35 miles) south of Milan, that should be harvested in September.
“We need about 50 mm [two inches] of rain, but without hail,” said Carlo Angoli. “Or a big hailstorm in September and then the insurance will reimburse us,” he joked.
Pavia is at the heart of Italy’s rice-making industry. The province regularly produces nearly five million tonnes of the grain each year.
But this year there was not enough spring rain and its rice farmers are despondent.
