The agriculture ministry has “deplored” the Pitkala Association’s decision to stop the Farmer’s Cooperative and other non-members from selling their products at the Pitkalija.
The pitkala are locked in a dispute with the government after they had their licences suspended. The issue revolves around a bank guarantee the middlemen have to pay in order to have their licences renewed. The association wants the government to ditch the guarantee but the latter says this is essential to ensure that farmers are paid their dues.
The Pitkalija, situated in Ta’ Qali, serves as a place where farmers drop off their produce, which is then sold to shops and supermarkets.
The ministry said the association’s action will hinder market operations and have a negative effect on the farming community.
It said the bank guarantee serves as a security on fees owed by the intermediaries and is not a “frivolous thing that was introduced simply to put an added burden on them.”
The ministry said it has had a number of meetings with the association and always showed good faith. They discussed a number of issues, including the association’s request for commissions to be doubled.
The ministry said it is willing to find a just solution for all parties but insisted that, until then, the bank guarantee has to remain in place. It said it cannot risk a situation where farmers do not get paid their dues.
It said that, to lessen the impact of the action taken by the association, it will be taking measures to help farmers to sell their produce directly at the Pitkalija. Farmers will be allowed inside the complex on Monday at 2am and they will be guided by ministry officials. Vegetable vendors will be allowed in at 4am, to give time to the farmers to set up.
The ministry said it will see the Pitkalija reform implemented. The reform, it said, will improve product traceability and transaction transparency.
In a statement, the Nationalist Party said the Covid-19 pandemic is already creating serious challenges for farmers and vegetable vendors and any conflict at the Pitkalija can only make their situation worse.
The conflict that arose between the government and the Pitkalija is an irresponsible decision and the government should, at this time, ensure that the market is run as efficiently as possible.
The government is managing the Pitkalija through “management by crisis,” the PN’s agriculture spokesperson, Edwin Vassallo said. He called on the government to push forward the promised reform.