Italy’s famous rice-growing region is facing a serious water crisis as drought and extreme heat leave farmers with far less water than they need. The country is Europe’s biggest rice producer, with around 235,000 hectares of rice planted in 2025, mainly across the northern provinces of Pavia, Vercelli and Novara. But this season, rivers, canals and reservoirs are running dangerously low, with the Po River and Lake Maggiore among the water sources under severe pressure. Many farmers are struggling to keep their fields flooded, and some have already had to leave parts of their land uncultivated because there simply is not enough water to reach every field.
The shortage is forcing farmers and irrigation authorities to rethink how water is managed. Irrigation systems are being rotated between farms, while discussions are growing around building more reservoirs, storing water underground and changing farming practices to prepare for longer and more frequent droughts. In Pavia alone, potential agricultural losses have been estimated at more than €100 million. For rice farmers, switching to another crop is not a simple solution because their land, machinery and entire farming systems have been designed around rice production. Italy’s drought is therefore becoming a bigger warning for European agriculture: when temperatures rise and rainfall becomes less reliable, even regions with centuries of farming experience can find themselves running out of the water that keeps their food systems alive. More