Farmers' lot - September 1, 2005

I would like to correct some misunderstandings by Randolph Spiteri, communications coordinator at the Parliamentary Secretariat for Agriculture and Fisheries (Safeguard Clause, August 24), of what I wrote in my August 19 letter.

I never harped on the implementation of the safeguard clause because I realised that it was a non-starter. I had every right to do so because all farmers were promised the gimmick but my union did not bite. This, however, does not preclude Peter Axisa from raising hell at the cruel joke played on the farmers.

Yes I did write my letter before August 16 but the NSO figures do not change the fact that farmers' income has been so high because John citizen is paying up for it. When the subsidies dry up the farmers' agony will start. Last year farmers took most, if not all of their crop to the central market so as to avail themselves of the subsidies which would not be given if products are sold at the farm-gate. This factor should have increased the visible/ recorded income on its own but apparently did not and "subsidies compensated farmers' loss of income" (NSO reflection). It makes one sad to realise that were it not for subsidies some products would not be viable to take to market.

In agriculture you do not snap your fingers and hey presto you have tomatoes. You must plan months ahead. Mr Bezzina should delve into the following serious matter: While Maltese customers are paying a 7c subsidy per kilo of processed tomatoes, imported similar products can be purchased at just above half price. Now if you add the cost of subsidies borne by the local customer he would really be paying double.

What would happen when within a few years subsidies dry up?

All EU farmers are up in arms against the debacle that is crushing them by imports from third countries.

The same can be said of the clothing industry and now even the car industry will be feeling the pinch. If we talk about trade bargaining we are reasoning in a neo-colonialist and capitalist vein and yet up to last year we in Micro Malta had our quota for potato export. I did stop to laugh a bit when I read that part.

However, I wept a few days earlier when I read in The Times that in the agricultural show held in Gozo an Italian firm had a stand displaying wine, oil and bread, this when the Maltese farmers' unions fights to keep foreign products off the central market. The appeal of the Minister for Gozo urging for the opening of niche markets for export sounded ridiculous when Gozo was literally giving fantastic publicity to the greatest competitors of the Maltese/Gozitan farmers. Have the Gozitans not heard what the Ravenna farmers did?

I must thank Mr Bezzina for reminding me that farmers do not have a total and final say in the administration of Rural Development Funds but he did not rule out that farmers do have some rights. Cross compliance is totally in the famers' fold.