In Italy the use of water in agriculture is essential in terms of
quantity and quality, especially in the South regions where most
crops are currently grown with irrigation. Taking into consideration the source of the water and agricultural uses for water,
irrigation has changed from being a means of obtaining higher
yields to a factor which can direct agricultural production towards
quality crops and contribute to the safeguard of an area and its
natural resources, within the new European Community Policy
framework. In arid and semiarid areas of Southern Italy, however,
factors suchas thenatureofthe territory,lowrainfalllevelsduring
the spring and summer months and the precarious infrastructure
ofthewaternetworkshaveledtoaseverewater shortagewhich,in
turn, has strongly influenced the agricultural sector itself.
Demand for water in this sector has also increased yearly, both
in order to satisfy the water requirements for crops which were
once only rain fed, and as a result of climate change over the last
few years, which has led to an increase in water requirements