The regional situation
The latest road accidents in Marconia and Metaponto (there were more than 300 in one year) and the presence in parks and neighborhoods of Potenza demonstrate that the effort made with the 3 thousand wild boars killed in Basilicata, with the technique of endorsement and fixed stakeout, in the first half of 2023, is not enough. Thus Cia-Agricoltori Italiani Basilicata which, while acknowledging the Galella Agriculture and Latronico Environment councilors for having intensified the hunting and harvesting activities of ungulates, underlines the need for an extraordinary culling plan as proposed in the recent Regional Assembly.
The accumulated delay
CIA asked for timeliness and speed in the actions to be implemented to reduce the increasingly significant damage to crops, production, agricultural and livestock companies and citizens. It is a question of making up for the delay accumulated in the implementation of measures that should have been implemented many months ago. The annual amounts of damage to agriculture have fluctuated in recent years between 14,6 and 18,7 million euros, with an annual average of over 17 million euros. In Basilicata alone between 2 and 2,5 million euros a year to which to add the damage caused by car accidents. Compared to the forecast plan for the culling of 80 thousand animals in three years, last year just over 8 thousand were killed in the five ATCs. According to the most updated data, last year compensation for damage to agricultural crops by ungulates reached 1,250 million euros.
A suitable refreshment
Among the strategic actions identified: the compensation to hunters which should allow us to broaden the number of material executors of the killings through the assignment of adequate compensation for the expenses incurred; the provision of "manhole covers" to farmers with incentives for installation and management; the provision of a collection service for killed wild boars; collaboration with the Veterinary Service is fundamental for efficient health monitoring; the location of a suitable number of cooling cells; logistical activities for carcass collection; activation of a wild boar meat processing center. For Cia, more can and must be done. (CIA source)