Govt to offer 11 mn euros in aid to stricken olive producers

(ANSA) - Rome, April 29 - The Italian government will offer 11 million euros to help compensate olive producers whose trees have been destroyed by the Xylella bacteria, Agriculture Minister Maurizio Martina said Wednesday. Trees have been rooted out and destroyed to try to stop the disease that has triggered trade bans by France, where the bacteria may have been found on a coffee plant. Martina has argued the issue is international and not a problem for Italian producers alone.