First estimates: -30% for the next oil campaign

I'm from Cia-Italian Farmers the first estimates on the next oil campaign. And they are, as it was easy to predict, with a negative sign: a -30% in the main olive-growing regions of Southern Italy (Puglia, Calabria, Sicily and Campania) compared to last year, due to the high temperature and water shortage.
“Although the olive tree is extremely resistant to drought – writes the trade association – water maintains a fundamental role in certain phases of the plant's life cycle. The anomalous heat in the flowering period in May and the water deficit in the growth phase in July they have, in fact, created the conditions for a very unfavorable vintage for the production of olives. With the mix of heat and drought, the plant is therefore forced to sacrifice part of its production and in in some cases dried fruits are already visible, a tangible sign of climatic imbalances. But even when the olives manage to grow, water stress dehydrates the pulp and compromises its development, reducing the formation of oil”.
To the problems caused by the climate, according to the CIA, there is also the looming threat of the olive fly. "In the pre-harvest phase in autumn - it is highlighted - the danger of insects could, in fact, further damage the quantity and quality of the productions". According to Cia, they are, therefore, necessary for olive growing reservoirs and modern water infrastructure, as well as better soil management, with techniques aimed at containing water losses.