VOICE OF THE
WORKERS ISSUE 21 MAY 2014
The importance of Agriculture Contents ONE CANNOT TALK ABOUT MALTA’S ECONOMIC SECTORS AND EXCLUDE AGRICULTURE. ON FACE VALUE, IT SEEMS LIKE ITS IMPORTANCE IS OVERVALUED. IN FACT, THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR’S CONTRIBUTION TO OUR LOCAL GDP HOVERS AT AROUND JUST TWO PER CENT. HOWEVER, LOOKING AT AGRICULTURE SOLELY FROM ITS DIRECT CONTRIBUTION TO GDP IS VERY SIMPLISTIC
Sowing the seeds for success
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Seizing Opportunities
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The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy
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Sustainable Agriculture
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Agriculture at a European Level
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Video 09
EDITOR’S NOTE JOSEF VELLA First of all, although much of our food is obtained through imports, most Maltese households highly appreciate local produce. Our sunshine is the backbone of the sector’s success. We have an early crop, and its quality is clearly discernible when compared to other, competing countries. Moreover, local, fresh produce is much more accessible to the local market than imported crops. Apart from the economic aspects, there are also environmental reasons behind the importance of agriculture. Tilled land helps preserve our fertile, albeit scarce supply of soil. Lack of land being worked for purposes of VOICE OF THE
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agriculture can result in extreme soil erosion that once lost, cannot be regained. Also, agriculture is an intrinsic part of the Maltese landscape. This is important for locals as it is for tourists who are enchanted by the rustic scenery, the rubble walls and the unique, Mediterranean landscape. All this is apart from protecting land from being developed, providing much needed open spaces forming the country’s lungs. If we agree that Maltese agriculture needs protecting, we need to move from words to action. This is a multi-stakeholder aspect, not just one-sided. First
of all, farmers are a dying breed. Research shows that employment in this sector decreased by 50% during the last ten years, and most of Malta’s farmers are parttimers. This means that farming is not being seen as attractive, both economically as well as physically. We need to invest more in making this work more attractive and worthwhile. On the part of the farmers themselves, there has to be more effort for education and awareness. Aspects such as sustainable water use, and the use of pesticides are a case in point. Unfortunately, the agricultural sector in Malta has always been very fragmented, and 1
PICTURE STORY
attempts to help farmers work together effectively have had limited success; even when that meant that our produce was being less competitive than imported produce. Efforts at packaging local produce more attractively have also proved problematic. We also need to solve the problem of the excessive fragmentation of agricultural land. The smaller the parceling of land, the less efficient our sector can be. Fragmentation of work practices and produce do not make our agriculture more competitive. This may also be the reason behind lack of employment opportunities in the sector, and also behind the lack of substantial parts of otherwise workable fields.
We also need to protect our farmers from dumping practices. Although we are operating within a free, EU market, we need to ensure that our farmers have a level playing-field with their foreign counterparts. Dumping of agricultural produce, without effective controls over their provenance and other quality certification, can severely limit our farmers’ ability to compete fairly. Our representatives need to make a solid case for the unique attributes of our agricultural industry, and that these need to be addressed as a sui generis case. There are many good reasons for having a thriving agricultural industry. It can provide work
for more and more people. The sector provides a snowball effect on other industries, including employment. We cannot keep looking at this sector as though it is the cinderella of our economy. There are inherent challenges that have to be tackled creatively, and head-on, and opportunities that can be exploited, including co-operation with other sectors such as tourism. What we do today will impact us as well as future generations. We need to turn agriculture into an agriindustry, and our farmers into agri-business people. This is the only way that work in this sector is not just protected but increased. The challenges are significant. But so are the benefits.
Sowing the seeds for success A host of challenges plague the agricultural sector in Malta; a lack of education, fragmentation, competition, and others. However, opportunities exist for the sector to thrive on the strengths of the local, sun-baked produce, and the demands of the market. A proactive approach and the right, positive attitudes by all stakeholders can really sow the seeds of success. Malta depends on it. VOICE OF THE
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INTERVIEW - CHARLES ZAHRA
SEIZING
OPPORTUNITIES Charles Zahra was interviewed by John Mallia
CHARLES ZAHRA, 26, from Għargħur, grew up in a farming family, and both his parents are full-time farmers. He was awarded a scholarship under the Erasmus Student Exchange Programme to study at the Department of Agricultural Sciences, within the University of Perugia, Italy in 2011. In 2012, he was awarded a Leaonardo da Vinci IVT project entitled scholarship on “Ecoagro and environmental development plus sustainability” has carried out an Agrotrain E-learning pilot course about Organic Farming completing his traineeship at Lareverde SCA organic farming cooperative, with technical visits to Rancho Cotresano Honey factory, Pajarete Cheese factory, La Verde SCA organic farming, Caballero Sherry Winery and IFAPA Rancho la Merced research centre of agriculture, and in the same year, graduated as Bachelor of Science, Mediterranean Agro-ecosystems Management, University of Malta. Zahra is currently reading through a M.Sc in Rural Sciences, carrying out research on Nutritional enhancement in Watermelon.
Q: The amount of full time workers in agriculture is declining drastically. What are the reasons behind this? A: This number is not only declining, but the average age is getting higher and higher. Old farmers are not being replaced by younger workers. There are different reasons behind this. Land is limited, and if farmers do not have land to work in, farming will not happen. Secondly, there is also the aspect of competition. There are foreign farmers who are VOICE OF THE
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growing bigger by the day, owning not only their farms but also areas even beyond their country of origin. They are not really farmers, but entrepreneurs, with 1000 or 2000 hectares at their disposal. These are attaining economies of scale we cannot ever dream of having, and are literally flooding the market. Locally, the farming business is mostly a family set-up, small and employing mostly next of kin. This model, unfortunately, is not really adequate to this market.
Q: So what’s the alternative? A: There is an alternative. If the farmer seeks, finds and services a specific local market directly without the need for middlemen, then we would be able to become more competitive, and aspects regarding quality, sourcing of produce and traceability will become easier. This will be positive both to the consumer as well as to the farmer. This model Is not just an alternative. It is also a workable model. There are others, but this one just may be viable. 3
INTERVIEW - CHARLES ZAHRA
Unfortunately, the amount of abandoned fields is rising. This also means we are also losing on another important asset: our landscape Q: Can this model create more employment? A: Yes, definitely. Not just for family businesses, but also for people outside the family business, as the market per kilo produced becomes more accessible, and returns become more attractive. Q: But the local market is fragmented. Isn’t fragmentation the enemy of competitiveness? A: Fragmentation is already substantial in Malta. However, this model can indirectly reduce fragmentation, as in the present set-up, family businesses tend to break up into smaller ones through generations. This model may help prevent family fragmentation, at least. Q: There is also the aspect of parceling. A: That’s an issue. Due to leasing to different people, you have a situation where large expanses of agricultural land are not being tilled by the leasee. This results in soil erosion, and can even lead to water wastage, as rainwater passing through unworked fields tends to flow by, probably into the sea and is never harvested. Not to VOICE OF THE
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mention rubble walls, part of our national culture, that are normally taken care of by farmers, are left to crumble. After a storm, the majority of soil wastage comes from empty fields. Unfortunately, the amount of abandoned fields is rising. This also means we are also losing on another important asset: our landscape. The irony of it all is that there might be land that a person would be refusing to work on, and on the other hand, there may be farmers willing to work on land, but do not have any land available to work on. This needs to be addressed. There is a substantial amount of agricultural land belonging to the state. Here, decisions may be easier. But where there is private land, the issue tends to be somewhat more complicated. Q: What about the question of competition? Can we compete in a different way? A: You hit the nail on the head. We might not be able to compete on the level of the mega agricultural conglomerates, but if we utilize models and research other sectors, I firmly
believe there is a future. The open, European market has undoubtedly brought about numerous challenges. However, if we just expose ourselves to the challenges and do not exploit available opportunities, we would be shooting ourselves in the foot. For example, we are successfully exporting potatoes. Methods, as well as the produce itself, have changed over the years to respond to market situations; that is why it was such a success, even to this day. There are other markets, such as tomato processing where what is being demanded by the market might be different to how we produce tomatoes in Malta, especially when it comes to machinery. However, our model is still providing a good income for our farmers. Same goes for winemaking. We have been evolving in this sector, and are becoming increasingly successful. Even here, our production processes have changed to respond to market needs. Because we evolved, we survived. Q: How can farmers gain better access to different markets? A: One very viable model is the 4
INTERVIEW - CHARLES ZAHRA
co-operative model. Farmers come together to package , market and find new niches for their produce. I am firmly of the opinion that Maltese farmers have still not exploited the opportunities that are coming their way through the open market. Q: What about agri-tourism to bolster the agriculture sector? A: I think that to have a successful agri-tourism industry, farmers need to team up with professionals in the tourism industry. These people already know their trade, and have
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been proven successful. If farmers decide to reach out and cooperate across sectors, they might exploit opportunities even in this area. We do not need hotels on agricultural land to do this. Most of our hotels are located within reasonable distance. Here in Rabat, we also have hotels in the vicinity. Imagine what cooperation with the tourism operators might lead to. The opportunities are there. Q: What, do you think, are the main ingredients for success? A: On an individual basis, the
secrets of success are twofold. Enthusiasm and passion. On a sectoral level, we also need to increase ways of cooperating together, exploit the opportunities that come our way, and invent new ones as well. We need the right attitudes and cooperate not just together as farmers, but also across different sectors. We are not reinventing the wheel here. That’s what our direct competitors are doing. Gaining intelligence from experts in different fields, and cooperating on various initiatives can be the secret to our success.
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MEUSAC
THE
EU’s
COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY The European Commission estimates that the farming and the agri-foods industries today represent 46 million jobs and 6% of the European Gross Domestic Product. The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was established in 1962 as an instrument to boost food production against the famine affecting the post-war period. The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Cioloş, has described the EU’s CAP as the bridge between an urban world and a more strategic agricultural sector. Another aim of the the new CAP introduced in 2013 is the strengthening of confidence of European citizens in agriculture. It also aims to sustain the sector in order to make it attractive
for young farmers by enticing research, innovation and investment in the private and public rural infrastructure.
European farmers to modernise their operations as well as offering them an alternative method of funding through rural development programmes.
The three major pillars of the CAP are the food markets, the European countryside and the environment. In all of these areas, the Policy aims to support the farming community without threatening the diversity in the production techniques used across Europe.
The CAP is based on the fundamental fact that only 6% of Europe’s farmers are aged below 35 years. Therefore, it makes a special emphasis on the need to make the industry more attractive to potential young entrants in agriculture.
One major priority of the Policy is to keep the countryside vibrant with activity, mainly through economic activity. The latter is not simply limited to food production but also involves other productive economic activities such as agri-tourism and other rural development initiatives. For this reason the EU is helping
The underlining principle of the CAP remains a competitive European agricultural industry which maintains practices in full respect of the environment. The CAP promotes sustainable farming in sync with the conservation of natural resources and the protection of wildlife and biodiversity.
MEUSAC 280 Republic Street, Valletta VLT 1112 Tel: +356 2200 3315 • Fax: +356 2200 3329 • Email: info.meusac@gov.mt www.meusac.gov.mt VOICE OF THE
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MCESD
S
AINABL T S U E
AGRICULTURE
The agricultural industry has a high impact on our way of life as well as on the environment and its contribution to the local economy has evolved throughout the years. Today, although the sector is relatively small, it is still considered as a valuable contributor to the national economy. Agriculture also has a cultural and historic role in ensuring that traditions are kept with numerous agriculture related activities being held during the year to promote the local product while promoting also healthy eating. Nowadays, this sector has become more efficient and provides a more diverse product. Taking examples from similar islands in Europe, agriculture can be used to enhance the local tourism industry. An agritourism policy needs to be developed so that local operators can look at
this option, especially the island of Gozo which can nurture this niche market in the heart of the Mediterranean. Within the Civil Society Committee at MCESD, the Agricultural and Fisheries section is also represented. Its active participation and representation ensures that the views of this section of society are heard and the opinion of its members is given weight. The European Union as well as Malta have recognised the importance of the development of agriculture in a sustainable way. The development of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the amount of the EU budget that is being allocated to this industry is concrete evidence of the importance of this industry. One can easily understand the
great attention that has been given to this sector mainly since agriculture is the most common type of economic activity in European rural. The integration of the CAP in all member states has brought improved food security as well as a stable and open market of products. Farmers must be encouraged and ensure that they too remain competitive and innovative in this continuously changing industry which changes include external factures such as climate change. Local producers might say that with EU accession and the open market, competition has grown and they may find it difficult to remain competitive. However thanks to the CAP one is guaranteed a constant healthy supply of produce. A healthy and reliable supply of fresh fruit and vegetables is something which we all look for.
MCESD 280/3, Republic Street, Valletta, VLT1112 Tel: (+356) 2200 3300 www.mcesd.org.mt VOICE OF THE
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CIA
Agriculture at a European Level
EFFAT position on the seasonal workers directive The European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT) represents 120 national trade unions from 38 European countries. In response to the adoption of the directive on the conditions of entry and stay of third-country nationals for the purpose of seasonal work by the Council and the EP (PE-CO S 113/13), EFFAT adopted a position available at the following link: http://www.effat.org/en/node/11051
“Promoting social dialogue in the sector of Agriculture in the new member states toward developing a Sectoral Social Scheme in terms of combating precarious work places, poverty and social exclusion of the agricultural workers” (VS/ 2013/0407) The project is presented by FNSZ, Bulgaria. It aims at studying and analysing the situation of social security systems in several EU member states and candidate country with a special focus on the sector of Agriculture where the coverage of the employees is not sufficient. The objective is to offer transnational exchange of experience and existing good practices in the social security schemes available in the old member states. During the project a peer review on the situation of social security systems and existing sectoral social schemes will be undertaken. The results from the study, the regional working meetings and the conference will be disseminated at national and transnational level. More information are available here: http://tinyurl.com/nejau7b
Europe’s food chain partners working towards more sustainable food systems In a Joint Declaration entitled, ‘Actions towards a more sustainable European food chain’ (http://www. effat.org/en/node/11090 ) published in April, representatives from across Europe’s food chain and the NGO community encourage EU policy makers to support a more cohesive approach to safeguarding the sustainability of food systems for future generations. The Declaration comes ahead of the publication of a European Commission Communication on the ‘Sustainability of Food Systems’ and in the context of addressing future challenges in this area. It includes 32 concrete policy recommendations which could help achieve a more sustainable food chain by 2020, including improving the coherence among different food-related policy objectives and among EU stakeholder platforms, taking into account all aspects of sustainability, ranging from EU agriculture and fisheries, environmental policies, health and consumers, to waste management and energy policies. More information are available here: http://www.effat.org/en/node/11091
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CONSULTATIONS
Open Consultation to support the evaluation of the Implementation of the EU Ecolabel Regulation. The consultation is intended to inform the evaluation of the implementation of the EU Ecolabel Regulation (EC) 66/2010. The purpose of the consultation is to collect views from stakeholders on the implementation of the EU Ecolabel Scheme.The EU Ecolabel Scheme is a voluntary environmental labelling scheme designed to promote products with reduced environmental impact and through this contribute to a more efficient use of resources and a higher level of environmental protection. The EU Ecolabel Scheme is part of the wider policy on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) linking it with other instruments such as Green Public Procurement and the Ecodesign Directive. The consultation will be open from the 25th of April 2014 until the 18th July 2014 http://tinyurl.com/pv5zmja
INFORMATIVE SOURCES
50 years of social dialogue in the Agriculture Sector Last September 2013 the social partners in European agriculture – EFFAT, representing workers, and GEOPA on behalf of employers – celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their sectorial social dialogue. Recognising the importance of Europeanlevel cooperation early on, the agricultural sector was a pioneer and trailblazer for social dialogue at European level, encouraging and inspiring the social partners in other sectors to follow in its footsteps. Among their victories, the social partners have achieved regulated working hours, safer use of agricultural machinery and equipment, improved occupational health and safety, changes to various instruments of agricultural policy focused on agricultural holdings and the people they employ, and support for social partners’ organisations in new EU Member States.
EUROPEAN PROJECT
NEWS
Agriculture is a very important aspect of European Union discussion and policy making. The following is a selection of initiatives being taken at EU level. This section is being collated by the Brussels Office of the Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori.
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Operational Programme II - Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life Project part-financed by the European Union European Social Fund (ESF) Co-financing rate: 72.25% EU, 12.75 MT, 15% Private Funds Investing in your future VOICE OF THE
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