Tractors across Italy have been mobilised to sanitise the country’s streets and squares of coronavirus, with the distribution of disinfectant water using sprayers.

Italy is worst hit by the disease in Europe, with the country on complete lockdown.

The president of Coldiretti, the Italian farmer’s union, Ettore Prandini launched an appeal to farmers to make themselves available to local authorities to help with the effort.

Coldiretti has said that by helping, it reinforces the commitment of farmers and contractors in times of crises where 750,000 farms are busy working to ensure continuity of food supplies to the population despite current difficulties.

Farmers in parts of Italy are also stepping up to the plate to deliver food and supplies directly to elderly people.

“It is a difficult time for everyone in which we must support each other. With this home delivery initiative, we want to guarantee everyone, in compliance with all government regulations, the seasonal products of our producers, in particular for the weakest and most vulnerable people,” the president of the Nuoro Ogliastra of Coldiretti Leonardo Salis has said.

Profiteering on milk prices

With the emergency, there are those who, as in war, take advantage of the difficult situation and even profiteer on basic foodstuffs such as milk, the organisation warned.

It has criticised unsustainable requests for a reduction in prices paid to dairy farmers “as the supermarkets are stormed” while farmers continue to milk cows to guarantee production and supplies in the Italian homes.

“With citizens lining up to buy the staple foods of the diet, the pretext of closing bars and restaurants to unilaterally terminate contracts is unacceptable at a time when the country needs Italian milk,” it said.

Unfortunately, there are those who try to exploit their bargaining power to pay cheaper prices for perishable foods such as milk, while milk production cannot be stopped in milking parlours, it said.

The group called it “a shameful move” by those who try to fill their pockets by taking advantage of the country's difficulties.

Ettore Prandini said "we will not allow it" and called it "high treason against families and businesses".

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