Rome: Heatwave and reduced rainfall has hit Italy hard, and it is faced with the worst famine in the last seven decades. Given the famine, the Italian government announced an emergency in the country. Emergency was clamped in two central Italian provinces and five northern provinces that are the centre of agriculture in Italy. Italy, a member of the G-7, is the 9th largest economy in the world.
For the last few years, Italy has been hit by heat waves. At the same time, there has been a reduction in rainfall. This has also caused a reduction in the snow regions in Italy. This has had the worst effect on the Po, the largest river in Italy, and its basin. Po river is 650 kilometres long and flows north-south. Agriculture, electricity generation and even industry largely depend on this river, known as the lifeline of Italy.
Moreover, the river known as the most significant source of sweet water in Italy has shrunk considerably and the water level has reduced by nearly 80% in the last year. Photographs of a dry river in many parts of northern Italy have been published. 
With the exposure of the river bed, remains of ships from the second world war and historic bridges have surfaced. Other rivers in Italy also are said to have been affected.
Central and Northern Italy is known as the warehouse of food grain in Italy. But there has been a 25% to 30% reduction in agricultural production. These include crops like wheat, rice and tomato. Along with agriculture, even electricity production has been affected. The most significant hydroelectric projects are on the Po river. 
But the concerned agencies informed that with the reduction in the water level, electricity production also reduced considerably. Water rationing has been started in leading cities of Italy and the fountains in these cities that were tourist attractions have been ordered shut.
Against this background, the Italian government has forewarned about the future situation by declaring an emergency. There will be an emergency in the five northern provinces till the end of this year. Financial aid of 35 million Euros has also been announced for these provinces.
