"On the Xylella there is a real risk that a certain 'habituation' will cause the level of attention to decrease. The advancement of the bacterium and its various subspecies, some of which are capable of attacking not only the olive tree, and the outbreaks in the Bari area are a warning: if we do not act forcefully and promptly, the situation could explode”. Thus Gennaro Sicolo, President of Italy Olive growing and Puglia CIA, comments on the discovery of another outbreak capable of affecting three almond trees and four olive trees found to be infected with Xylella fastidiosa, sub species “Pauca”, in the countryside of the municipalities of Bari, Noicattaro and Triggiano.
Immediately an extraordinary commissioner
Already last June 25th, Gennaro Sicolo had been very clear during thehearing called by the XIII Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, precisely in the context of acognitive investigation on the state of the art in combating the spread of the bacterium. Both on that occasion and in Bitonto, more recently, in front of the Undersecretary La Pietra who has always shown great attention to the problem, Sicolo has highlighted a concept that he is now affirming again: “The Government must appoint an extraordinary commissioner”, reiterates the president of CIA Italian Farmers of Puglia, “a person who has the power to intervene quickly and with a new set of resources available also for new investments in research. A commissioner who can coordinate containment activities in the buffer zone, urging public administrations, state railways and other bodies to do their part, immediately adopting the appropriate phytosanitary measures. But containment plans alone are not enough because we must above all promote scientific research in order to find the right therapy to save plants. Up to now we have only had diagnoses but we are waiting for research to give us the therapy. A decisive intervention by the Puglia Region, the Government and the European Community is urgently needed."
Government intervention has been requested several times. The idea has repeatedly been proposed of a commissioner who has adequate powers and resources in order to put into practice the measures to combat the bacterium as well as implement a real regeneration plan for the three most affected provinces, that of Lecce first and foremost, together with the territories of the Brindisi area and the province of Taranto.
An international network against the bacterium
“We need to strengthen all the tools and initiatives to combat the disease, which we have already been dealing with for over ten years, through more systematic support for scientific research, creating and strengthening an international network capable of finding finally effective solutions – adds Sicolo – but it is clear that the national and regional governments, even with the strongest and most present support from the EU, must do much more to combat it, in order to avoid the further spread of Xylella fastidiosa. If the bacterium were to spread in the Bari area and, from here, throughout northern Puglia, Apulian olive growing would seriously risk being completely eliminated. It is a disastrous eventuality that would bring tragic consequences, as unfortunately has already happened in Salento, where the olive production potential has been almost completely lost, but we are fighting to regenerate it. And it is a fight that must be supported seriously and quickly. We need unity of intent, with a national control room, for the allocation of new resources and the strengthening of prevention activities and to encourage the streamlining of bureaucratic procedures".
CIA-Agricoltori Italiani, it is revealed, has always relied on science. The national government and the European Union support the scientific task force, so that research finally arrives at effective and applicable solutions. Cia Puglia, as always, will be alongside farmers, institutions and scientific research institutes to continue to do their part in the fight against Xylella which must mobilize everyone, each for their own role and possibilities, so that this plague has finally been eradicated.
