The point of view of farmer .

Conversation with: Tanino Campisi, 31-12-2009

Key words: water, aquifer, production quality, commercial activities

Several aspects of water management and agricultural production have been discussed during a conversation with Mr. Tanino Campisi on the 31^st December 2009.

What follows are just opinions, bust substantiated by 2 generations long experience on the agricultural sector on a industrial scale.

Siracusa is provided with favourable conditions, the land is perceived to be generous, it offers optimal conditions for lemon production, Lentini and Palagonia are optimal for oranges, the southern zones of Avola is optimal for almonds. The area of Vittoria is less favourable for agriculture because of sandy soils and sea breeze but they are using green-houses.

The area of Siracusa is perceived to be reach of water; 200 l/s of production from local wells are common. No water scarcity has been ever recorded there. Consortiums of irrigation are not in place, therefore only private wells are operational nevertheless, wells, not officially registered are common too. When registered, wells are registered at the Genio Civile that should check the meters. Water quality decreases going from the mountain plain to the seashore, (parameter are needed). Sea water intrusion is happening in the costal plane.

Farmers in these areas are small and medium size and are not organized in consortiums.

The commercial side, the entire production cycle depends on the farmer, research is not done, and universities are far away. How farmers develop innovation? Innovation would be very much welcome, Tanino says, and it is needed but none of that is done in-house. Relations with universities and research institutions are not common and although needed.

Bottom line innovation is difficult to be implemented because a certain scepticism. Basically researchers and consultants are not trusted and farmers of long traditions believe of having a better understanding of local conditions. In reality the easy environmental conditions, which are in place in the province, create a sense of overconfidence in the farmers and there is no tradition or reliance on external consultancy because actually external competences were never needed. Farmers easily succeeded in the production with such a fertile soil.

Well, on the other hands countries with more difficult conditions have been accustomed, have been forced by circumstances, to closer contacts with technicians and researchers, so that it became an habit and nowadays farmers are more open to scientific cooperation.

Given that, in Siracusa, water and natural resources are not limiting factors of production (that’s disputable) the real problems are related to: cost of working power, costs of fertilizers and weak position of farmers in front of big distribution.

In few words:

Water is not a limiting factor of production (is it true?);

Water quality is excellent if extracted far from the costal area;

The agricultural conditions are particularly favourable because of fertile soil and mild weather;

Favourable conditions generate certain overconfidence in the farmers that never needed external consultancy (they never asked and actually they don’t know who to ask to);

Universities and farmers do not know each other and do not cooperate;

The agricultural association is not active and does not promote innovation in this area;

Now, it is believed that in regions with much more difficult conditions, agriculture is based on scientific studies and proper calibrations, therefore, relations with technician and researcher are part of the tradition.

That’s it, a point of view of an industrial farmer in the geographic area of Siracua.