The Nationalist Party will be putting forward amendments to legislation on agricultural leases at committee level in order to strengthen the agriculture industry and farmers while also respecting the rights of landowners.

This was announced in a party press conference led by MPs Toni Bezzina, Rebekah Borg, and Robert Cutajar. 

The PN said that the government moved forward with the bill without letting the public consultation phase conclude. “The government thinks that it understands the industry better than the farmers who have lived their lives in the industry.” 

The PN said that it had therefore consulted with these stakeholders in order to “come up with tangible solutions in order to safeguard the industry as well as ensure a level of food supply from it.” 

Bezzina said that while the PN is in favour of the government’s proposed amendments and would be voting in their favour, “more is needed.” 

One of the most important amendments is determining a fair rent for the land which takes into consideration the potential income of the land as well as the income of the farmer. 

There were also calls by the PN MPs for a financial aid package to be given to farmers in cases where an increase in rent was ordered.