Climate change causes weather events that are more or less sudden and violent. Of course agriculture is heavily affected, whether we are taking about greenhouse or open field crops.
Above and below, the images provided by Angelo Iozzia
On 14th April 2019, a tornado swept through Santa Croce Camerina (RG), where Angelo Iozzia's agricultural business is located, and destroyed 3500 sq m of pepper crops in just 30 seconds.
"The tornado hit at 7 am. I did not understand what was happening at first, but 30 seconds seemed endless. Soon after, I discovered that some of my greenhouses had been completely destroyed."
Iozzia's business was not the only one hit by what seemed a full-on "Medicaine" (Mediterranean hurricane ).
In a nearby fresh produce market, a 5 ton lorry was overturned by a gust of wind (probably originated by the tornado itself).
The experts are increasingly talking about prolonged periods of drought and violent downpours with a very intense electrical activity.
If, to these weather events, we add the spreading diseases and the increasing production costs, then it is clear how it is more and more difficult to run an agricultural business.
The damage is currently being assessed, so it will take a few days to have a more precise idea of the extent. Repair work will start as soon as possible, at least in those companies that have the economic strength to react.
