Over Euros 1.4 million were invested in the pitkalija (vegetable and fruit market) to set up grading station centres, said Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Frans Agius yesterday in Siggiewi.
Dr Agius was speaking at the inauguration of the fresh fruit and vegetable fair organised by the Siggiewi local council.
This investment falls under the restructuring financed by the Fifth Italian Protocol to set up a grading station centre.
He explained that the Istituto Agronomico Del Mediterraneo in Bari organised practical and technical training sessions which were followed by officials from the Rural Affairs Ministry and farmers.
Dr Agius explained that in the plan drawn up by the ministry, a number of guidelines are being set up to help introduce the concept of product grading to local farmers.
He pointed out that the recently set up producers’ organisations are also part of the restructuring process of Maltese farming.
At present there are 824 members in the producers’ organisations who drew up an operational programme which will cost Lm275,000.
“Since Malta is an EU member state, the EU will fund Lm137,000 – half of the expense,” explained Dr Agius.
The recently set up olive registry identified over 1,200 tumuli of olive groves and there are three official olive presses in Malta and one in Gozo.
In 2004, over 10 tonnes of olive oil was produced, said Dr Agius. This year, production went up to a total of 120 tons, of these 40 tonnes were produced in Gozo.
The Maltese vine industry is flourishing and many local producers are investing heavily in this sector, said Dr Agius.
In 2001, there were 3,000 tumuli of vines registered, which increased to 6,300 tumuli in 2004. In 2005, around 7,500 tumuli were registered, which adds up to an increase of 1,200 tumuli of vines a year, he added.
“These figures reflect the farmers’ faith in the industry as they are making the effort to diversify their crops,” said Dr Agius.
A wine laboratory and microvinification system was recently set up at Ghammieri to help the process of wine pressing and over 60,000 hectolitres of wine were pressed last year.
Dr Agius explained that the law to protect wines hailing from different regions known as the Denomination of Controlled Origin is already drawn up and will also cover local traditional wines.
“The government is planning to use Euros 3 million from the EU Interreg arcimed programme to build a wine club in Buskett,” said Dr Agius.
A group of Italian experts are helping the ministry with the project and will be in charge of the works once the plans are set up.
Dr Agius thanked Maltese consumers for helping local farmers by buying the fresh local produce.