Gozitan food and vegetable producers have registered an increase of 13 per cent in the volume of fruit and vegetables passing through the Pitkali markets in the first six months of 2007, compared with the same period in 2006.

This translates into 2.35 million kilogrammes of fruit and vegetables being produced in Gozo alone in the first six months of the year.

Cattle population continued to increase in Gozo, with 2006 registering 6,110 heads – an additional 2.1 per cent over 2005, while more than 4,500 applications from Gozitan farmers for different schemes were registered in 2006.

Presenting prizes to agriculture producers during the traditional Farming and Skills Exhibition, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono said that European Union membership has resulted in an enthusiasm for improvement on the part of the agriculture sector in Gozo. Instead of being discouraged by new challenges, farmers have risen to the challenge and begun to implement measures that have resulted in better quality and higher yields. Mrs Debono referred in particular to the various schemes aimed at assisting farmers in the production and processing of fruit and vegetables, including specific schemes for tomatoes, potatoes and vines, rubble walls, the preservation of soil, the implementation of organic farming, improvements to farm structures, schemes for milk producers and others under the Rural Develop-ment programme.

In 2006 alone, 1,263 application forms were completed by full-time and part-time Gozitan farmers and submitted to the IACS office in Gozo. The application forms listed a number of schemes for which Gozitan farmers could apply and altogether, through the 1,263 forms, Gozitan farmers submitted 4,586 individual applications across the different schemes on offer.

Mrs Debono also spoke about the investment made by local food producers in more modern food packaging, resulting in better hygiene standards and higher marketing value. This type of investment further encourages the trend among local consumers to increasingly opt for produced food items such as cheeselets, honey, tomato products, olive oil and limuncell.

The minister pointed out that agriculture remains an important economic activity for Gozo and the government is continuously supporting this industry in several ways. She referred to the pre-

budget document entitled Families Growing Stronger, in which particular reference is made to agriculture in Gozo, renewing the government’s commitment to this sector through specific measures that are being proposed for implementation.

President Edward Fenech Adami and parliamentary secretary Frans Agius were also in attendance.