Italian Policy Framework for Water in Agriculture - Water and Agriculture: Sustainability, Markets and Policies - page 334

Total water availability in Italy is estimated at 52 billion cubic metres, 2 50% of which
is allocated to agriculture, in line with the medium value of OECD countries 3 and with a
constant tendency to reduction 4 . Water distribution for geographic areas is not
homogeneous: 65% is concentrated in the North of Italy, 15% in the Centre, 12% in the
South and 8% in the big islands (Sicily and Sardinia). The difference between North and
South is due to climatic and historical factors: regions in the Centre and in the North are
characterised by favourable climatic conditions and a tradition of irrigation and drainage.
On the contrary, Southern regions, characterised by a semiarid climate, have faced water
availability problems and strong public action after World War II (numerous dams were
financed and built starting from 1950 onwards 5 ); nevertheless, in the southern areas and
in the islands remains an asymmetry between water availability and water requirements.
According to the Italian National Census of Agriculture (ISTAT, 2000), irrigated
areas in Italy are approximately 2,5 million he, and 19% of Utilized Agricultural Area
(UAA). 6 The main irrigated crops are grains (30% of irrigated area), concentrated
especially in the Northern regions, wood crops (a greater percentage in the islands, 50%),
citruses (prevailing in all of Southern Italy) and, thanks to technological progress, crops
that once were not irrigated (for example, olive trees).
The relationship between agriculture and water resources is characterised by several
common problems, whose relevance changes at territorial level:

a. fragmentation of irrigation services from a legal and physical point of view;

b. private irrigation and the increase of groundwater withdrawals;

c. condition of irrigation networks;

d. managerial efficiency;

e. the release of pollutants produced by agriculture into water bodies and a worsening of
water quality.

With respect to fragmentation, there are many public agencies operating in the water
system having different competencies that are not always well defined; sometimes
agencies' competencies overlap creating coordination problems in planning and
management of water use. 7 Moreover, there are a high number of agencies (several
hundreds) which are very small.
In all regions, in the same areas where public agencies operate, there is irrigation
operated with a private water supply (80% of farms in some areas). 8 It creates a problem
because this kind of water supply cannot be planned and controlled by the authorities.
2.

IRSA-CNR (1989).

3. OECD (2004).

4. National Environment Protection Agency (2004).

5. Zucaro R. and Pontrandolfi A. (2003).

6. ISTAT (2000).

7. Ubertini L. e Casadei S. (2002).

8. Zucaro, R. (ed.) (2004).