In the province of Caltanissetta, a commune in the heart of Sicily, the lack of rain has transformed the agricultural landscape: fields scorched by the sun, idle farming equipment and dry rivers are now common sights. Farmers and livestock breeders are left with no water for their animals and are unable to harvest their land. "There is no hope because it hasn't rained since May of last year. All the seeded fields have gone bad because there is no wheat, no barley, and no oats," says farmer Salvatore Michele Amico. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES