Agriculture in Gozo will receive a boost through a BOV-sponsored conference that will have agriculture in Gozo as its main topic of discussion. This conference is being organised jointly by the Gozitano Co-operative and the European Commission (DG Agri), and is being held at the Teatru Astra Conference Centre in Victoria this weekend.

Jack Theuma, manager of Bank of Valletta’s Gozo branch discussed the bank’s involvement in the conference with Dr Joseph Grech, manager of Gozitano Co-operative during a courtesy visit to the Gozitano centre.

“Bank of Valletta will shortly be launching a new agricultural financing package for all agricultural projects and rural development eligible for EU funding for the programming period 2007-2013,” said Mr Theuma. “The bank is committed to support initiatives and events that promote sustainable development in Gozo,”

Dr Grech thanked the bank for its support saying, “The conference will be tackling numerous topics of interest to the agricultural community. These include the sustainability of European agriculture, the EU Common Agricultural Policy, environmental sustainability for Malta and quality production for agricultural development in the Mediterranean.”

The Gozitano Co-operative includes approximately 695 members and offers various services from its centre in Xewkija. The co-operative also supplies its members with seeds, fertilizers and farming equipment which includes an olive press which the farmers can use to extract olive oil.