Agricultural industry needs an overhaul, PD says

The agricultural industry in Malta needs an overhaul, especially as the country should not be completely reliant on foreign imports, Partit Demokratiku has said in a statement. “There is room for a stronger, sustainable and long-term green economy, with a happy, successful and educated segment of full-time and part-time farmers. Farmers deserve our full support.”

PD said: “Farming is under threat for a variety of reasons, not least of which is the lack of new farmers willing to take up the craft, as well as the competitive price and convenience of foreign produce, even if of lower quality.“

“To tackle the challenges of Malta’s agricultural sector, Partit Demokratiku champions modernisation, education and innovation. Niche markets are one way forward, catering to the strengths, uniqueness and distinction of Maltese goods, so that in seasons where there is overproduction, they can be sold abroad with the right marketing. For example, incentives for organic production can lead to greater success in that field.”

“Reform will also require us to deal with the contamination of all sorts of chemical fertilisers in our soil, which has a knock-on effect on our water resources. These are added indiscriminately, even in Għammieri. Nonetheless, the farmers cannot be blamed for the government’s negligence. Partit Demokratiku reiterates its call for the setting up of a testing lab for pesticides in Malta. Help in this matter has been sought from the President’s Foundation as this need is being ignored. Currently, farmers need to send samples abroad, which is a waste of time and money. A prime mover in this field may be the University of Malta.”

PD congratulated the government on its European initiative to ban glyphosate, an issue on which Malta took a definitive stand in November following PD MP Godfrey Farrugia’s intervention in Parliament.