The Labour Government is committed to restructure and modernise the agriculture and fisheries sectors in Malta to ensure their competitiveness and sustainability. This commitment has been strengthened over the last two years as the world struggles to cope with the challenges arising out of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine.

Food security is of strategic importance and our government has had to intervene to protect farmers and fishermen, while ensuring that the Maltese consumer continues to enjoy fresh food at reasonable prices.

Due to the extraordinary events of these last two years the EU has launched the Agricultural Crisis Reserve and set new temporary guidelines governing State Aid giving Member States greater flexibility to intervene under the Rural Development Programme.

Our government did not rely only on the financial assistance coming from the EU, and this year 5,000 farmers benefitted from €4 million financed through national funds to lessen the impact of Covid-19.  A further €3 million went to assist farmers to purchase fertilisers, pesticides, and animal feed . The price of fuel for fishermen too is being subsidised as without it the survival of our fishing sector will be jeopardised.

The Common Agricultural Policy is of fundamental importance in the European Union. This year my Ministry finalised its Strategic Plan 2023-2027 under the CAP. This guarantees that Malta will receive €191 million (an increase of 38%) to support our efforts in this field. In 2022 the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights has been very active so as to ensure that the various EU financed projects, including the National Gene Bank at the Plant Biotechnology Centre and the AgriHub project at Ghammieri, are implemented in time and on budget.

The AgriHub is serving as a research centre and is expected to issue guidelines on growing produce in a more sustainable manner in the coming weeks. More emphasis will be given to more efficient use of agricultural land and organic farming.  A National Register of Traditional Agro-Food Products of Malta will be developed so as to promote their local production.

Soil sensors and smart traps network around the Maltese Islands are providing greater information that is essential for preventing the spread of plant diseases, and farmers will be informed through AGRICONNECT how best to control such diseases.

Information technology is fundamental to the modernisation drive being pushed by the Ministry. Significant improvements are being made to the IACS, the main electronic system at the Agriculture and Rural Payments Agency. An application for mobiles will enable farmers to apply for more services through their phone. New software will enable farmers to better estimate the amount of fertiliser required to grow their produce as well as for improved testing and analysis of animal products intended for human consumption.

Improved and extended IT services are driving many of the activities of the Animal Health and Welfare Department, by introducing concepts relating to such apps as MyFarm and MyPet.  These electronic developments include the introduction of an online payment system, a national information system on animal health, food and feed system, improvements to the rapid alert enabling veterinaries and the general public to raise alerts re animal diseases, the registration of newly born calves and the transfer of animals from one farm to another, information management relating to electronic veterinary certificates as well as  veterinary laboratory analysis which will enable faster processing of samples and issuing of results. 

Regarding the Fishing industry, Malta's efforts in EU fora during 2022 focused on the difficulties being faced by local fisherman due to the illegal operations of fishermen from non-EU Mediterranean countries, especially during the 'lampuki' season. In August a pilot project was launched by the European Fisheries Control Agency, whereby its vessel 'Lundy Sentinel' made inspections in the Strait of Sicily.

The fisheries mobile application has been extended to cover the 'lampuki' season and is now also available for amateur fishermen. It is our intention to give a tablet to every fishing vessel so as to facilitate digital reporting. We have also introduced additional IT services for fish farmers. An online dashboard will simplify processes for fish farm operators to digitally access the website containing their profile and enabling them to make online payments.

Significant investment has been made in the purchase of monitoring equipment and the installation of service pillars in various local harbours for the use of fishermen.

At the 'Pixkerija', the Malta Food Agency has introduced various administrative changes to be better able to meet the needs of fishermen.

This Agency has also embarked on the reform of the 'Pitkalija' and introduced various measures, such as the electronic provision of additional information to farmers, to enhance transparency. Plans are in hand to build a new 'Pitkalija' and a new Farmers' Market which will have all the necessary amenities.

The Public Abattoir has made significant investment to improve its operational efficiency. It has doubled its freezer capacity, which has made it possible for pig breeders to benefit from the EU's 'private storage aid'.  An agreement with the University of Ghent, recently signed, will enable the Abattoir to train various personnel to be able to better classify beef and pork according to the best practices within with EU regulations.

This year the Abattoir will also secure deboning and cutting equipment which will further improve the quality of local meat products.

During the AGRIFAIR held last May, The Animal Health and Welfare Department launched a consultation document which was the first step in our country having a National Animal Welfare Strategy.  Tender documents for the formulation of this National Strategy are at an advanced stage.

This Department also formulated legislation relating to amendments to the Veterinary Services Act (Cap 437) and the Animal Welfare Act (Cap 439). 

Sites have been identified and plans are being prepared for the construction of a new Veterinary Laboratory, 'Meet and Greet' locations for pets and animal adoptions and areas for the training and exercise of dogs. Studies are in hand regarding the opening of modern 'rehoming centres' for the adoption of animals, including stray ones.

Our agriculture and fisheries are only as good as the people who work in these sectors. This year we launched a scheme offering extended training to young farmers. 

My Ministry is conscious of the social importance of the sectors under its responsibility and their contribution to the Maltese ecosystem. It is also sensitive to assist in preserving the local heritage as evidenced by the Abattoir's restoration of the Water Tower and the Victorian entrance to Marsa as part of the cultural initiatives associated with its being the Maltese City of Culture.  We have also restored the more than 400-year old reservoirs and surrounding walls of the Plant Biotechnology Centre in Lija.

It is of extreme importance for us to have a strong, modern legal framework governing the sectors falling under the remit of MAFA. In this regard we have been working on the Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (Chapter), new regulations under the Animal Welfare Act (chapter 439) which has already come into force and a Legal Notice relating to the Agriculture Consultative Committee. The latter has the aim of seeking to make the committee more inclusive of the various stakeholders in the sector and to further encourage their participation and contribution towards the development of agriculture in Malta.

One of the most important milestones that we have embarked on as a government within the agricultural sector, are the amendments to the 'Lease Renewal Act (chapter 199) and the need for reform in the acquisition and ownership of farmland so as to ensure that agricultural land is used for this purpose. This reform was launched earlier this month and is key to guaranteeing the sustainability of agriculture and food production, as well as the protection of the rural environment. Whenever there are issues in this area, these not only affect farmers but also have a strong impact on the supply and security of food and the quality of the environment that can be enjoyed by society. When the acquisition and possession of land are not controlled, there is a risk of farmers losing agricultural land, to the detriment of their livelihood, as well as to the country's ability to produce food and safeguard the rural environment.

Achieving the goals that we envisage requires a reform that is based on a long-term vision and offers direction to the necessary action, and that is motivated by reasons which are in the interest of the general public, and involves farmers. This is why this White Paper brings together a set of proposals designed to address issues that may bring about the loss of crops, thus creating a legal framework and control systems that safeguard the social rights of all stakeholders, food safety, and environmental protection. The public has been invited to submit comments on the White Paper during the consultation period which ends on the 8th of November 2022.

A major event held in the month of May by the Ministry was the Malta AgriFair. The Malta AgriFair 2022 shone a well-deserved spotlight on local produce, machinery, systems, and technological developments in the agricultural and fisheries sectors. Over 30,000 people visited the MFCC grounds over the weekend to experience this one of a kind event.

We will be doing more to ensure that these sectors have the necessary human resources by ensuring that our agricultural and fisheries community enjoy an adequate standard of living by supplying fresh quality products appreciated by Maltese and visiting consumers alike.