A security problem
Their incursions into farms devastate fields of wheat, vegetables, fruit and vineyards, compromising the work and income of farmers and forcing producers to adopt expensive prevention measures such as electrified fences. This, apart from the most serious damage in social terms, that of safety on the roads. In the area Puglia Around 300 road accidents occur a year – some with tragic consequences – due to the presence of wild boars on the road.
Regional hearing
For this series of reasons it is necessary to move away from inaction and intervene on legislation in order to protect public safety and the work of farmers. This is what Confagricoltura Puglia highlighted a few days ago during the joint regional hearing between the II and IV commissions of the Regional Council, chaired by the presidents Vincenzo Di Gregorio and Francesco Paolicelli and convened on the wild boar emergency.
Control measures
“This is an unsustainable situation for farmers in terms of safety and economics for farmers,” said Luca Lazzàro, president of Confagricoltura Puglia, who also underlined how the complexity and fragmentation of legislation on wildlife hinders implementation of effective control measures: “The Apulian countryside is invaded by these wild animals which destroy crops, damage infrastructure and put the lives of citizens, especially motorists, at risk. Fragmented legislation in the field of environmental protection significantly slows down control interventions on the animal population. It is essential to simplify procedures and provide farmers with the tools they need to protect their crops and ensure their safety."
African swine fever
Confagricoltura Puglia also underlines the importance of building a controlled food supply chain obtained within the programs for the management of the wild boar population and of coordination with the health system for the significant expansion of African Swine Fever, which is becoming increasingly widespread and dangerous for quality pig production. “It is therefore a good thing – highlighted the president of the organization – the streamlining of bureaucratic burdens for the creation of a network of short supply chains for the commercial valorisation of game meat but the guard must remain high on checks and analyzes of carcasses”.