Orange growers in Sicily warned today that heat and drought are threatening this year’s production, appealing for help from regional and national authorities to save their businesses.

After months of little rainfall, water scarcity affects the central part of Sicilyaffecting among others the island’s orange groves which produce 65% of the national production.

“Sicily is experiencing one of the worst seasons imaginable, from a climatic point of view… The risk of desertification has now become very concrete“, underline two associations of orange growers of the island in a joint statement they issued.

Agricultural production across Italy shrank last year due to extreme weather events linked to climate change.

The announcement calls for urgent action to mitigate the effects of the drought, such as upgrading dams and reservoirs, reducing leaks from water supply pipelines and simplifying procedures for irrigation wells.

Other demands include the refund of fees paid last year by orange growers, discounts on electricity bills and agricultural oil, as well as higher compensation for affected crops.

The announcement will be shared with national and regional bodies in charge of managing the water shortage, which threatens “the survival of citrus cultivation in Sicily”.