Farmers 'charged' Lm600 for organic produce certificates

Nature Trust Malta said it was disappointed that producers of organic vegetables had been charged Lm600 to cover their certification by the Malta Standards Authority.

"Farmers who have taken the initiative to give better quality crops to the consumers by working harder in order not to use pesticides should be better supported", the NGO said.

It urged the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment to stand up to its talking in favour of organic farming by providing assistance, either financial or in kind, to such farms.

It also urged farmers to pool their efforts into regional set-ups to reduce their expenses and provide consumers with quality produce at competitive prices.