An alternative to golf at Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra

Mr Sam Cremona worked hard to discover the Maltese olive tree, spending his own money to do so. His PRIMO project, backed by Bank of Valletta, is going to be one of the most important agricultural projects of the decade.

In the past 10 years, thousands of olive trees imported from other Mediterranean countries were planted all over the island. The Maltese olive tree was not given any importance. Only 16 such trees remained. These are found in Bidnija and are about 2,000 years old. Some farmers realised the advantages of this native tree after grafting rootstocks from the trees in Bidnija.

Mr Cremona took up the challenge and a gene bank certificate was established for this tree, a native tree that is unique to the Mediterranean. He started production on a small scale, 200 a year. The PRIMO project will see more than 10,000 trees planted in the next two years and will give farmers the opportunity to plant the original Maltese olive tree. And we can, in future, sell the original Maltese olive oil as the olive oil industry is to be revived.

Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra farmers grafted this native olive tree but they are frustrated by Government's termination of the lease of their land to build a golf course. There are at least 100 native olive trees in this area. Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra farmers are willing to plant more. But we are still waiting to see what is going to happen to our land.

Meanwhile, we are losing precious time. In ten years' time one can see the difference in our countryside. We will also have an olive oil industry, with all the economic and financial benefits to the farmers and to our economy. Government has to do one simple thing: safeguard the farmer's right to till the land that has been his for generations. Leave all the rest to us. And we will make create a real win-win situation at Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra