Environment and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino made the announcement during a seminar about Malta’s Rural Development Plan. Parliamentary secretary Francis Agius was also present.

The aid will fall into two separate categories, that of investing in agricultural structures and for improvement processing and promoting agricultural products.

Lm1,540,179 has been put aside for the first category, of which 70 per cent will be financed by the EU and the remainder by the government.

Each applicant will be allowed 50 per cent funding of the total investment he wants to make, provided it is between Lm500 and Lm100,000.

Each application will be evaluated by a selection committee. Not all applications will qualify for funding. The purpose of the funding is to help farmers reduce their production costs, increase product variety and to have a better product.

Lm959,820, again 70 per cent of which will be funded by the EU and the rest by the government, will be put aside for the second scheme.

The aid will also be for 50 per cent of outlay provided it cost between Lm500 and Lm100,000.

Dr Pullicino said the E6 million funds are further help for farmers wishing to improve their agricultural produce.

Mr Pullicino said the present was a time of challenges and opportunities. He said people should take things seriously and work in a professional and transparent manner, using these funds to improve the general agricultural product.

He said if the funding is not used, it will be a waste of time and money that will be a loss for the whole of Malta and Gozo.

Applications can be picked up from the Rural Development Department as from 23 August. More information is available on tel. no. 2590-4251 or by sending an email to [email protected]