About 100,000 agricultural enterprises may close in Italy due to rising prices for fertilizer and fuel

March 28, MINSK. About 100 thousand agricultural enterprises in Italy may cease their activities due to a sharp increase in production costs. This is reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the largest association of Italian agricultural producers Coldiretti.

Based on the latest data from the Italian Council for Agricultural Research (Crea), the association's experts concluded that the costs of a large number of farmers now significantly exceed the income from the sale of their products, including MILK, MEAT, fruits and vegetables.

According to this information, about 11% of the country's agricultural enterprises are now on the verge of closure, about 30% are forced to work at a loss. One of the main reasons for this situation, according to experts, has recently accelerated growth in prices for fertilizers (170%), diesel fuel (129%), livestock feed (90%). The increase in production costs is due to the consequences of the covid-19 pandemic and the situation in Ukraine.

Based on this analysis, Coldiretti concludes "the country's shrinking food autonomy and its ability to respond to supply shocks caused by international tensions."

Earlier, Coldiretti President Ettore Prandini said that due to the situation in Ukraine, Italian agricultural producers risk losing 750 million euros due to a reduction in the EXPORT of their products, primarily wine and pasta.