A real plague is the record invasion of grasshoppers which threatens to bring the economy of the countryside to its knees in Sardinia. And yesterday the cold shower arrived from Rome, no refreshments.
Only three years ago two thousand hectares were attacked by locusts, now we are at an altitude of 30 thousand, with the center of the island most affected. And according to Coldiretti's estimates, it will soon reach 50,000.
THE MAP
We started from Ottana, then the invasion spread to the Marchine, along the Tirso towards the Goceano (in the Sassarese) and now also to Ozieri and on the other side towards Sedilo, in the Oristano area.
Even the cars traveling on the 131 have to deal with hundreds of locusts splashing on the windshield, very eloquent images circulate on social media.
IN PARLIAMENT
The deputy of Coraggio Italia Lucia Scanu raised the case during a question time in the Chamber with the Minister of Agricultural Policies Stefano Patuanelli.
"If you tell me today that the state of natural disaster has not yet been announced, you are telling me that the state is obviously willing to sacrifice other areas of Sardinia," said the Sardinian parliamentarian.
"We will evaluate the state of emergency and the possible appointment of a commissioner", said Patuanelli, explaining however that "the infestation of locusts does not fall within the areas for which it is possible to activate the compensatory interventions of the National Solidarity Fund, authorized in exemption notification pursuant to European legislation on state aid to the agricultural sector ".
Very clear words, which once more have frozen Sardinian farmers.
PLAN
Farmers who in the meantime, waiting for Rome or Cagliari, have decided to move on their own with an intervention plan that involves municipal administrations and farms.
A time schedule launched by Coldiretti to be presented in the Region to eradicate or limit the phenomenon in one year. First of all, it is asked to create a single macro area with the overall mapping of the areas involved by 1 September. Then plowing between September 15 and March 30 in the flat areas.
"If the soil does not lend itself - explains the trade organization - we intervene with targeted and repeated treatments to be performed in early April on the occasion of the hatching of the eggs".
(Unioneonline / L)