MEP David Casa visited producers of agricultural products in Siggiewi. Mr Casa forms part of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety in the European Parliament.

Mr Casa visited Pawlu Attard, a producer of honey, Gakki Farrugia (tad-Djamant) who cultivates grapes and also grows peaches, Zaren Micallef who works vineyards and Joe Borg who produces olive oil using the organic process.

“Thanks to the European Structural Funds (EAGGF), Maltese farmers benefited from Lm1, 586, 876 to invest in agricultural structures between 2004 and 2006,” Mr Casa said.

Another scheme promotes investments for improving quality, hygiene or environmental conditions; facilitation, improvement and rationalisation of processing and marketing of agricultural products; development and application of new technologies and innovative investments; feasibility studies for penetrating new markets and general costs such as architect, engineer and consultant fees for business plans.

For the scheme “Improving the Processing and Marketing of Agricultural Products”, another Lm988,923 have been invested of which Lm692,246 or 70 per cent was funded by the European Union.

“Apart from being of good quality, the product has to be presentable to compete. The European Union guarantees the improvement of our product and is always on the alert to improve,” said Gakki Farrugia.