Speaking on a windy day within the confines of a Mosta secondary school, various government officials launched a public consultation on a draft National Agriculture Policy.
Director of agriculture Saviour Debono Grech explained that the document which people are invited to give feedback on before the national policy is concluded follows a three-year process including studies of the current situation and the path forward.
Key challenges were identified such as land management, competitiveness, traceability, incentivising young farmers, climate change and water usage. The idea is to highlight various solutions and strategies that will allow the agricultural industry to grow sustainably while using innovative methods to address the aforementioned challenges.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who also addressed the event, described 70 recommendations for the agriculture industry which delve into the creation of niche markets, gastronomy, high value products, diversification, social regeneration and protecting land.
Muscat acknowledged that Maltese farmers have much less land when compared with their European counterparts, and highlighted how the government would begin a process of seeing public land get back into the hands of farmers for agricultural purposes.
He said that one big problem is that farmers cannot pass on their land to children. This law has been in place to curb abuse, and was deemed necessary because sometimes the next generation would not be interested in farming and the land would be permitted to end up in a derelict state.
Muscat said government will work out a way to see that farming land is in the hands of genuine farmers who are passionate about their work, while also respecting land owners.
He acknowledged how government has been heavily criticised on their rampant pro-development strategy and made reference to agricultural land that has been threatened by the expansion of a factory in Bulebel, Zejtun,
Muscat revealed that the government has almost found a solution for that particular parcel of land and has found an alternate site for expansion.
Agricultural research and development
Other objections of the national policy would be an increased focus on research and development to come up with innovative ways to meet local challenges and challenges brought about through climate change.
Muscat was speaking at Taz-Zokrija school, Mosta, which has had an agricultural programme for the past four years. He proudly exclaimed how some 50 students have taken part in the programme, the majority of which have been women.
He said that many students had been transferred to the Mosta school after having difficulty in other institutions, and have been given a second chance at education.
Muscat stressed that the agriculture sector is fast becoming one of the areas with the most exciting scientific breakthroughs, and that students are realising it is a viable career choice.
He said that not everybody is choosing the traditional secondary school, sixth form and then university.
“Some are choosing vocations such as agriculture, which is another road to success”.
The Prime Minister explained how incentives are being awarded to farmers as part of the goal to incentivise youth, such as income tax breaks and assistance with technology used in agriculture.
He said the government would soon be announcing a modernisation in the local vegetable market and that a major project to dispose of animal waste is also in the pipeline.