Book launch of ‘Il-Biedja f’Malta’ by Stanley Farrugia Randon at Din l-Art Ħelwa

The author’s love for his country and the desire to ensure that certain terminology relating to ancient agricultural activities is not lost has inspired the author to write this book.

While Il-Biedja f’Malta is a history of agriculture in Malta and the effects it has on the Maltese landscape and environment, this book is also a practical guide on the sowing, cultivation and harvesting of local fruit, vegetables and herbs as well as on the diseases which can attack them.

The author, Stanley Farrugia Randon, is a medical doctor who grows products organically in his yard and has gathered a great deal of information from farmers particularly in Gozo. He encourages people to grow products in their own garden, yard or on their roof especially in an organic manner. This can be a hobby of great satisfaction serving as a therapy for body and mind encouraging the amateur to love nature and closely observe the stages of development of the products and the greatness of the creator.

The author recommends both professional and amateur farmers to save irrigation water and abstain from much use of ground water whose salinity leads to an inferior product. Another problem which requires a solution is the fragmentation of the fields which are not economically viable.

Chapters of the book are dedicated to the cotton industry and to the olive tree while the last chapter is a glossary of old terms and implements which have fallen in disuse.

The author would like to thank APS Bank for their financial aid in the printing of the book.

The book will be launched at the Din l-Art Helwa offices on Wednesday, 5 October at 6.30pm.

The book, which is printed in Maltese in full colour with over 400 photos sells for €29.90c and will be on sale from bookshops after the launch date.