The Italian island in a state of emergency as drought ravages country’s crops

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In May, the national government declared a state of emergency in Sicily and allocated 20 million euros to buy water tankers, dig new wells and fix leaky aqueducts. open image in gallery Sheep look for water in a dry pond used by local farms for their livestock, in Contrada Chiapparia Parts of Sicily have had rainfall deficits of up to 60%, according to the meteorology department at Italy's National Research Council. He peered from his barn toward an area where rainwater usually collected in a large pond, providing water for his animals, but the pond was now “as dry as a football pitch.” August typically brings the start of the winter rainy season, said Mangiapane, a longtime rancher who has gained a reputation as an outspoken supporter of natural grazing and small-scale cheese-making over industrial-scale agriculture. open image in gallery Fanaco Lake that provides water to a vast part of southern Sicily, including the city of Agrigento The local water basin authority is tightly rationing water for almost a million residents, with water flowing as little as two to four hours a week in the most affected areas.