General Information
· Main climates: Subtropical Dry Summer, Temperate Oceanic
· Total land area: 30 127 000 ha
· Internal renewable water resources: 179.4 km3
· Incoming water flow: 7.6 km3
· GNP per capita, 1998: PPP$ 20 365
· Main food consumed: Wheat, Oil & Fat, Meat, Sugar & Honey, Milk
· Rice supply, 1999: 8.9 kg paddy/capita/year
Basic Statistics
|
|
1985 |
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
|
RICE |
|
|
|
|
|
Harvested area (T ha) |
185.5 |
214.1 |
239.2 |
220.8 |
|
Yield (kg/ha) |
6052 |
6027 |
5520 |
5886 |
|
Production (T t) |
1122 |
1290 |
1320 |
1300 |
|
Imports (T t) |
352.2 |
51.0 |
58.3 |
NA |
|
Exports (T t) |
727.4 |
576.9 |
523.8 |
NA |
|
OTHERS |
|
|
|
|
|
Population (M) |
56.7 |
57.0 |
57.3 |
NA |
|
Agr population (M) |
6.03 |
4.9 |
3.88 |
NA |
|
Irrigated agr area (T ha) |
2425 |
2711 |
2698 |
NA |
|
Fertilizer cons (T t) |
2102 |
1944 |
1865 |
NA |
|
Agr tractor in use (T units) |
1227 |
1429 |
1460 |
NA |
Producing Zones and Cropping Seasons
Italy is the largest rice producer in Europe. Rice is grown mostly in the northern half of the country. The following table shows the harvested areas from different producing zones.
|
Production Zone |
Harvested area (% total harvested area) |
|
Vercelli-Alessandria |
40.71 |
|
Pavia |
32.18 |
|
Novara |
16.57 |
|
Milano-Mantova |
4.88 |
|
Emilia and Central Regions |
2.98 |
|
Southern Regions and Islands |
1.78 |
|
Veneto |
0.90 |
There is only one rice-cropping season in a year.
|
Cropping season |
Planting |
Harvesting |
|
Main season |
4-5 |
9-10 |
Production Practices
Rice is planted only under irrigated conditions, in medium to large and highly mechanised farms. Direct seeding by broadcasting is the popular method of crop establishment. Rice crops are applied with adequate rate of fertilizers and other agro-chemicals for crop protection. Rice varieties belong to japonica subspecies.
|
Variety Name |
Planted location |
Growth duration (days) |
|
Alfa |
Planted to 1 818 ha in 1983. |
151 |
|
Alpe |
Caresana, Sologno, Mede |
|
|
Arborio |
Planted to 35 995 ha during 1966-70 period. |
160 |
|
Arco |
Reggio, Occimiano, Siziano, |
136-171 |
|
Argo |
Planted to 804 ha in 1985. |
157 |
|
Ariete |
Planted to 7 076 ha in 1988. |
154 |
|
Auro |
Planted to 657 ha in 1980. |
160 |
|
Baldo |
Planted to 5 881 ha in 1978. |
150 |
|
Balilla |
Planted to 58 217 ha in 1974 |
170 |
|
Belgioioso |
Planted to 226 ha in 1986. |
154 |
|
Bonnet Bell |
Planted to 422 ha in 1988. |
149 |
|
Bonni |
Planted to 885 ha in 1975. |
155 |
|
Carnaroli |
Planted to 1 033 ha in 1986. |
165 |
|
Castello |
All rice areas |
170 |
|
Cripto |
Planted to 8 789 ha in 1987. |
156 |
|
Diana |
Tronzano V.se, Rovasenda, Novara, Breme |
147-158 |
|
Dorella |
All rice areas |
145-155 |
|
Drago |
All rice areas |
NA |
|
Elio |
Trino V.se, Alzate di Mondo, and Mede planted to 2 414 ha in 1988. |
170 |
|
Europa |
Planted to 12 699 ha in 1988 |
176 |
|
Flipper |
Caresana, Sologno, Mede |
136-145 |
|
Giara |
Planted to 180 ha in 1986 |
165 |
|
Grado |
All rice areas |
150-160 |
|
Gritana |
Planted to 5 152 ha in 1977 |
149 |
|
Ibis |
Trino V.se, Alzate di Mondo, and Mede |
161-188 |
|
Italico Roncarolo |
Planted to 2 024 ha in 1980. |
145 |
|
Koral |
Planted to 1 199 ha in 1988 |
149 |
|
Lido |
Greggio, Occimiano, Siziano, Caresana, Sologno, and Mede, planted to 62 062 ha in 1987 |
156 |
|
Loto |
All rice areas |
158 |
|
Maratelli |
Planted to 12 573 ha in 1966-70. |
160 |
|
Mistral |
All rice areas |
158 |
|
Molo |
|
|
|
Monticelli |
Planted to 2 474 ha in 1978 |
156 |
|
Navile |
Planted to 1 048 ha in 1975 |
155 |
|
Nero |
Planted to 919 ha in 1977 |
178 |
|
Onda |
Planted to 707 ha in 1983 |
151 |
|
Padano |
Planted to 27 344 ha in 1976 |
177 |
|
Panda |
All rice areas |
150-160 |
|
Pegaso |
All rice areas |
145-155 |
|
Piedmonte |
Planted to 2 577ha in 1979 |
164 |
|
Pierina Marchetti |
Planted to 3 385 ha in 1977 |
165 |
|
Radon |
Planted to 550 ha in 1979 |
167 |
|
Razza 77 |
Planted to 4 888 ha in 1961-65 |
165 |
|
Redi |
Planted to 2 026 ha in 1977 |
160 |
|
Ribe |
Planted to 26,067 ha in 1971 and 22 234 in 1978 |
159 |
|
Ribello |
Planted to 1 236 ha in 1974 |
165 |
|
Ringo |
Planted to 21 676 ha in 1978 |
159 |
|
Rocca |
Planted to 1 432 ha in 1976 |
165 |
|
Roma |
Planted to 21 873 ha in 1972 |
170 |
|
Roma Marchetti |
Planted to 7 784 ha in 1978 |
148 |
|
Romeo |
Planted to 6 894 ha in 1973 |
155 |
|
Rosa Marchetti |
Planted to 7 784 ha in 1978 |
148 |
|
Rubino |
Planted to 913 ha in 1980 |
176 |
|
S.Andrea |
Planted to 10 823 ha in 1985 |
160 |
|
Sara |
Greggio, Occimiano, Siziano |
147-171 |
|
Savio |
Greggio, Siziano |
147-162 |
|
Selenio |
Planted to 512 ha in 1988 |
158 |
|
Sereno |
All rice areas |
158 |
|
Silla |
Planted to 1 793 ha in 1974 |
140 |
|
Smeraldo |
Planted to 4 353 ha in 1985 |
158 |
|
Strella |
Planted to 404 ha in 1988. |
154 |
|
Thaibonnet |
All rice areas |
145-150 |
|
Titanio |
Planted to 335 ha in 1980 |
135 |
|
Vega |
Trino V.se, Alzate di Mondo, and Mede |
161-187 |
|
Veneria |
Planted to 12 741ha in 1981 |
162 |
|
Vialone Nano |
Planted to 6 712 ha in 1978 |
155 |
|
Volano |
Planted to 5 185 ha in 1988 |
160 |
The following table shows rice responses to fertilizer application.
|
Other information |
Test range (kg/ha) |
Control rate (kg/ha) |
Control yield (t/ha) |
Rate at Maximum yield (kg/ha) |
Maximum yield (t/ha) |
|
Nitrogen (N) |
|||||
|
Reported in 82-84, Po valley, sandy loam, pH5.7,N1.58%, P olsen307ppm,K226ppm, variety Roma, 0 N top dress |
0-200 |
0 |
4.6 |
150 |
6.7 |
|
Reported in 82-84, Po valley, sandy loam, pH5.7,N1.58%, P olsen307ppm,K226ppm, variety Roma, 50 N top dress |
0-200 |
0 |
6 |
100 |
7.4 |
|
Reported in 82-84, Po valley, sandy loam, pH5.7,N1.58%, Polsen307ppm,K226ppm,variety Strella, 0 N top dress |
0-200 |
0 |
4.3 |
150 |
5.9 |
|
Reported in 82-84, Po valley, sandy loam, pH5.7,N1.58%, Polsen307ppm,K226ppm, variety Strella, 50 N top dress |
0-200 |
0 |
5.3 |
100 |
6.2 |
Constraints and Issues of Sustainable Production
There are several constraints to sustainable rice production in Italy. Followings are the major:
Low temperature
Stagnation of the yield potential of rice varieties
High production costs
Blast
Red rice
Dependent on external market for the product
The following table shows the rice production costs.
|
Other information |
Yield (t/ha) |
Cost ($/ha) |
Cost ($/t) |
|
87-89 |
5.87 |
1910 |
325 |
The opening of rice market under WTO would have important effect on production. Also, rice production will be affected by the population's concern on environmental degradation.
Research and Development Institutes
· Ente Nazionale Risi Milano Piazza Pio XI 1 20123 Milano Milano Phone: (02) 874153 Telex: 34032 Fax: (02) 861372
· Instituto Sperimentale per la Cerealicoltura, SezioniSpecializzata per la Risicoltura, Strada Statale per Torino km 2.5, 13100 Vercelli, Italy; Tel (39) 161 39 11 34; Fax (39) 161 29 42 06.
· Ente Nazionali Risi, Centro di Ricerche sul Riso, Strada per Ceretto, 4, 27030 Castello d'Agogna (PV); Tel (39) 384.90.073; Fax (39) 384.98.673
· Achille de Vecchi Via S. Maria 18 20067 Paullo Milano
· Almo SpA Casella Postale 66 Via R. Sanzio 20 27036 Mortara Pavia
· Ardizzone Pietro Cascina Strada 27020 Valle Lomellina Pavia
· Bruzi, F. Via Marconi 28100 Novara, Novara
· Buffa & Chiocchetti 13032 Asigliano Vercelli
· Grassi Aldo Via XXV Aprile 28079 Vespolate Novara
· Istituto Biosintesi Vegetali Via Bassini 15 20133 Milano Milano Phone: (02) 706-00170 Fax: (02) 236-2946
· Istituto Sperimentale per la Cerealicoltura, Sant'Angelo Lodigiano Via Mulino 3, 20079 S. Angelo Lodigiano, Lodi Lodi Phone: (0371) 90269 Fax: (0371) 934785
· Maratelli Mario Cascina Valasse 13047 San Germano Vercelli
· Marchetti Domenico Via Carlo Savio 3 13031 Arborio Vercelli
