Investment in the broiler industry has led to a 29 per cent increase in production in the first three months this year, Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino said during a visit to the Valle del Miele chicken processing plant in Burmarrad.

The factory has been modernised in a three-phase project which has just been concluded, improving efficiency and processing costs. The products’ shelf life has also been improved. Machinery costing EUR250,000 has been installed with EU help, capable of producing between 1,000 and 1,200 broilers per hour.

Local poultry meat is superior to the imported variety, the minister said.

Agriculture and Fisheries Parliamentary Secretary Francis Agius said the agricultural sector was being restructured and processing plants approved by the EU were a guarantee of safety because of the mandatory hygienic conditions.