Graziella Chetcuti
There is no such thing as a "typical day" in a farmer's life, but on a spring Friday I followed the steps of a 48-year-old Maltese farmer, from early morning till sunset. Hoping to have a broader idea of what a day in the fields might entail. One thing I've learnt after just one day with Joe is that his average day is not "so average". In one day he slogged through a mountain of work: harvesting, ploughing, watering. You name it he did it.
His father suffered a stroke and at 15 years of age, Joe had to leave school and work the fields full-time. He now has been farming for 38 years and is managing 25 fields in which he spends about 10 hours a day. He grows various types of vegetables and fruit, such as melons, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots and onions.
At 7am the sun was already beating down upon the valley, where the small village of Manikata overlooked the rest of the terraced plots. Joe had already been there for an hour to avoid as much as possible the blazing heat of the sun. He immediately handed me a pair of gloves and I knew it was time for me to roll up my sleeves.
We first harvested the carrots. "In the old the old days we used to put them in bunches, but now we cut the leafs, wash them and sort them in boxes."
We left the carrots in the sun to dry out so that in the evening they would be easier to wash. By 10:30 we had harvested 30 full boxes of carrots and decided to have a break. His wife Rita had prepared for us a traditional Maltese 'qoffa' filled with Maltese bread, tomatoes, ġbejniet (peppered cheese), and coffee.
We then spent about 20 minutes chatting about the ins and outs of farming. We spoke about the developments of technology and how it has affected Maltese farmers.
"It brought with it lots of benefits but also a hike in the workload," said Joe. Farmers expanded their farms and this led to mass production, which brought an increase in competition and lower prices in its wake.
"With farming you work hard, hope for the best and prepare for the worse," said Joe. Farming can be very unpredictable he said, especially during winter, when the weather changes drastically in a matter of days. Farmers have to face other difficulties such as bacterial diseases and pest infestation.
"It's hard when things don't go as planned because there's no better feeling when you get to see the final product healthy and up to its full potential. It's not a job, it's a way of living," said Joe.
Joe is continuously thinking of what needs to be done and has to sacrifice a lot of family time especially in peak seasons. "Farming is sometimes underrated. We supply the most essential things for people, food and yet we are still considered to be the lowest class".
I asked Joe how he thinks the future looks for Maltese farming. "I think there's not much of a future. The younger generation is focusing on school and farming is the last thing they think about."
His father had wanted him to continue in his footsteps but now that he has his own children, he is the first to encourage them to study and find a professional job.
"With our generation gone, I think farming will experience a huge step back". Imported produce is also competing with the local market. "People should buy local vegetables, it encourages Maltese farmers and they would be getting something fresh" said Joe.
At about noon Joe decided to have a 'siesta' at his house just up the road. We met again at 4 o'clock and I found Joe covered in sweat and soil, after having just ploughed a field. He practises crop rotation and lets the fields rest for a few months to keep the soil fertile for the next crop.
The pump room is where he gets his water supply from. Some 40 years ago the water used to pass through stone ducts known as 'kanali' and they used a grid system called 'ħammiela' to water the fields. Unfortunately, traditional ways of using water have changed due to the use of borehole water. He started to water his melon field and while fixing a torn pipe he told me that he had to learn new skills in order to manage the daily farming problems.
"You cannot afford to bring outside workers, you have to learn how to fix the small daily problems yourself. These skills are gained over time, most of them were passed on to me by my father but I still learn each and every day".
It took us about an hour and a half to wash the carrots and at about 6.30pm we were finished. With a tired smile on his face Joe gave me a whole bag of vegetables and went back home to his lovely wife and three kids.
After spending a day in the fields, I was extremely tired and could not imagine what the peak season would be like. I had witnessed some pretty spectacular things, the grandiosity of Mother Nature and the impressive dedication of Joe. It was a fantastic experience and I definitely think the work these farmers do is quite extraordinary and must not be underrated.