Italian Policy Framework for Water in Agriculture - Water and Agriculture: Sustainability, Markets and Policies - page 333

Chapter 22.
Italian Policy Framework for Water in Agriculture

Raffaella Zucaro and Antonella Pontrandolfi 1

Introduction

The paper describes the evolution of the institutional and legal context of the Italian
water system during the last decade, as well as political strategies followed by the Italian
Government to reach a sustainable water use according to European Union guidelines.
In particular, the first section describes Italian irrigated areas and focuses on the main
problems referring to water use for irrigation.
The second section explains briefly the evolution of legislation during the last decade,
the activated reforms, the new institutional framework and the actual legislation, focusing
on the role of agriculture in this context.
he third section analyses applied policies, specific objectives and economic
instruments used by the Italian Government. Particular attention is given to the
integration with agri-environmental policies, finalised to water saving and water quality
protection. Policy performance levels are also analysed with regard to the impact of
agriculture on water bodies.
The fourth section points out the critical factors related to the water system and
possible strategies and instruments for achieving agri-environmental objectives.
In the conclusion, some reflections are made upon future scenarios in Italian rural
areas in consequence of the Common Agricultural Policy Reform, the future European
Rural Development Policy (2007-2013) and the implementation of the European Water
Framework Directive.

1. Irrigation in Italy

In Italy, economic-social development has greatly influenced the environment
producing consequences on plants, animal and human life. Agricultural activities changed
very quickly to a managerial industrial model causing a deep impact on water use and on
water quality.

1. National Institute of Agricultural Economics (INEA), Rome, Italy.