Guaranteeing stability in the agro-food sectors

ANTON REFALO, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, FOOD AND ANIMAL RIGHTS

Giving certainty and guaranteeing stability to all Gozitan and Maltese is the main aim of the government’s 2023 budget. A budget that contains measures aimed at sustaining economic growth in a post-pandemic environment against a volatile global economic and geopolitical backdrop. A budget that introduces various environmental and sustainability related measures.

We are not only looking into short term solutions but focusing on long term vision that recognises the needs of all our citizens.

This Government has been proactive in a time of need and will continue being so. When the war between Russia and Ukraine renewed the threat to the availability of essential supplies such as energy, iron and steel, basic agricultural commodities and animal feed, as well as increasing problems in transport and logistic networks, Government stepped in by issuing various schemes to support all the above-mentioned sectors.

These schemes have given stability to our country in moments of turmoil around Europe. One very important scheme that was issued by the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights is the Price Stabilisation Subsidy Scheme, which was issued in May 2002 as an emergency measure to ensure food security and mitigate for price inflation. The Ministry for Finance and Employment and the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Animal Rights launched a scheme open for business operators trading in cereals, flour, and animal feeds and who are registered with the Port Health Authorities and the Food Safety Commission or the Veterinary Regulations Directorate. Through this scheme, eligible business operators were offered financial assistance based on the price difference between the purchase prices of the commodity and the highest price in December 2021, taken as the base price.

Food safety and security are a top priority for the labour government, and this is why in 2023 my Ministry will be working on various measures included within the budget that will be crucial to the guaranteeing of sustainable agriculture and food production.

Government is working on the development of the first National Food Policy, which will also contain the Action Plan for Organic Production in Malta. Last June we opened the Surveillance

Unit within the Maltese Food Agency. A team of people were recruited and started working on the management and improvement of the farmers' market, the implementation of the common marketing standards for fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as the control and improvement of the quality of the fruit and vegetables that enter and are sold at the Pitkalija. This year the investment within the Pitkalija was ongoing while we increased the assistance to farmers to improve the quality of their products and obtain certification. Work has also begun to launch an initiative for carbon farming. Earlier this year we carried out the first phase through a pilot project. This project will continue throughout the year 2023 where the effect of the pilot project will be analysed and a strategy, upon the results arising from the pilot project, will be created. One very important milestone for the sector is a Legal Notice which was brought forward to Parliament that will lead to the amendments in the Act on the Renewal of Leases of Agricultural Land. Controlling the acquisition and ownership of land is fundamental to guaranteeing the sustainability of agriculture and food production, as well “Achieving the goals as the protection of the rural that we envisage environment. For this reason, whenever there are issues requires a reform that is based on a in this area, these not only affect farmers but also have a strong impact on the supply long-term vision and and security of food and the quality of the environment offers direction to the that can be enjoyed by society. necessary action.” 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. This is why we have launched a public consultation on the White Paper in relation to the Agricultural Land Reform. The 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 is being invited to submit comments on the White Paper during the consultation period.

We will also be investing in the knowledge of our fishermen, with a new IT system that will reform the Fishing and Aquaculture sector by modernising the infrastructure in digital tools, and a more efficient service. During the next year, this sector will continue to benefit from grants and financial support, also through European Funds, in order to increase investment and improve operations.

We are also guaranteeing full support in relation to Animal Welfare. Here we shall be assisting and working hand in hand with all the relevant stakeholders and NGOs. We will be providing constant financial assistance and amendments in current legal frameworks in order to guarantee the well-being of all animals.

My commitment in the coming years is to make sure that the agricultural and fisheries communities have access to the adequate human resources to ensure adequate standards of production of fresh local food. Supporting these sectors has always been and will continue to be a priority for Government. n