Record drought: Italy's granary dries up

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There should be water everywhere here.

Italy's longest river, the Po, is currently being hit by its worst drought in 70 years.

The water flow has halved within two weeks.

This has long affected agriculture in the region.

Nicola Forlani, Agricultural Consortium Region Ferrara

Agriculture in the Po Valley in northern Italy accounts for around a third of Italy's agriculture.

The record drought is a disaster for the farmers.

Also because salty seawater from the Mediterranean flows into the river bed.

Andrea Bandiera, Farmer

»This drought is real, it is not a theory to be explained, it is visible to all.

The wheat suffered from the spring drought and the grains just didn't grow, so the current yield is half what it should be.

We can't live off it when the yield is so low."

The unusually low water level is particularly clear from the air.

But also the people who are often out and about on the water and make a living from it see how extreme this drought is.

Stefano Grassi, Tourist Guide

»During previous periods of low water in the summer, at least three of these bridge piers were usually in the water.

One of the piers on this side of the river bank is usually covered with some water even during the summer dry spells.

I have never experienced such a serious situation.«

Meteorologists assume that the ongoing drought is related to climate change.

The weather forecast for the rest of the month is unlikely to improve.

There is still no sign of rain and temperatures in the region are expected to reach 40 degrees in the coming week - 10 to 12 degrees above normal.