18 organisations representing those in the agricultural sector have called on the government to find an “immediate” solution to the unprecedented threat of farmers losing their fields owing to court action.
It comes after a landmark judgement, reported by The Malta Independent last month, saw farmers evicted from a field which they were renting under a pre-1995 lease in Zabbar.
A Constitutional court had ruled in November 2020 that the present Law was protecting the farmer yet going against the Constitution, since it denies fundamental rights to the landowners. The Rural Leases Board then ordered the eviction of the farmers, quoting the Constitutional court’s ruling as the basis of the decision.
“Agriculture organisations are calling for an immediate solution to the unprecedented threat faced by farmers working on privately owned land”, the organisations said in a statement.
The 18 organisations reiterated that this “very dangerous situation can lead to the exodus of farmers; resulting in a huge social and environmental negative impact.”
“As a consequence, dozens of farmers will lose their livelihood, while the land they manage will fall in the hands of those who have neither the intention nor knowledge on how to farm it, or utilised for purposes that are not necessarily agricultural”, they said in a joint statement.
The organisations noted how the strategy launched by the Government for the country to recover from the pandemic, mentions how we need to improve food security, while protecting and strengthening our country’s food production. It also points out that farmers should be assisted to strengthen their position as land managers.
“It is evident that in some cases, the rent money paid for private land is ridiculous, and therefore it would be wise to revise such prices so that landowners would be more justly compensated. However, such a price must never be based on the land’s market value”, they said.
“Agricultural land has social and environmental purposes, and therefore, its value cannot be determined only by the lands’ commercial prices. The primary scope of agricultural land is food production that is accessible and affordable to everyone. Therefore, the producers’ profit margins can never afford high rents as these costs would not be economically feasible”, they added.
That is why agricultural organisations are calling on the Government to intervene urgently to find a solution that would make sense for all. The agricultural sector can serve as an economic pillar, however for this to happen decisions need to be made so that farmers can have all the necessary resources to thrive.
The statement was endorsed by 18 organisations: Malta Youth in Agriculture Foundation, Għaqda Bdiewa Attivi, Farmers’ Central Coop Society Ltd, Koperattiva Bdiewa Mġarr, Koperattiva Bdiewa Qormi u Għawdex, Koperattiva Bdiewa Żabbar, Koperattiva Bdiewa Rabat, Koperattiva Bdiewa Dingli, Koperattiva Bdiewa Siġġiewi u Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Koperattiva Bdiewa San Pawl il-Baħar, Malta Beekeepers Association, Għaqda Produtturi ta’ l-Għasel Malti, Breeds of Origin Conservancy, Koperattiva tat-Tadam għal-Ipproċessar Ltd, Koperattiva Produtturi tat-Tadam, Vitimalta, Xirka Produtturi Nagħaġ u Mogħoż, and Malta Organic Agricultural Movement.