Nadur council recently distributed 1,300 olive trees as part of their scheme to promote the plant-ing of olive trees.

The trees, which it imported directly from Italy, were sold to residents at a subsidised price to be planted in the fields surrounding Nadur.

The aim of the scheme, held for the third consecutive year, was to enhance the environment while encouraging farmers to vary their products for them to remain competitive and ensure a steady income. Under this scheme a foundation is being established in Nadur to organise eco-tourism activities.

During the presentation, held on Nadur's main square, tourists and visiting Maltese gathered to watch those who planted olive trees during the past two years crush their olives with a special olive-crushing machine.

The amount of olive trees that have been planted during the past years have made it possible for the production of olive oil to be used as a tourist attraction.

Combined with the growing of lemons and oranges and the production of traditional fare like honey, goats' cheese, julep, sun-dried tomatoes, it is hoped that olive-oil production will become the basis on which to develop eco-tourism.

One hundred and fifty trees were also distributed among farmers of San Lawrenz with the same aim of increasing the production of olives and olive oil.