Agricultural and on-farm nature tourism can be defined as businesses run by farmers as part of their normal operations for the enjoyment and education of visitors.

Agricultural and nature tourism have the potential to generate increased on-farm revenues, and, given strategic management, could also boost farm profitability. Additionally, since the majority of the public may have little or no contact with agriculture, on-farm tourism is also a way by which non-farmers can learn about agriculture and, in turn, support farm products through increased purchases made directly or indirectly from family farms. This is particularly so in Malta, as the country's small size makes farms within reach of the public.

Agro tourism has existed in the Maltese islands for generations. With the introduction of cars, the town folk was able to visit the countryside over the weekends in order to go for a stroll and, at the same time, buy fresh produce off the farmers. It was a common thing for city dwellers to take their children to the countryside in spring in order to buy fresh strawberries directly from the farmers, especially in the north or west part of Malta.

Nowadays agro tourism has changed and has developed into an important part of the tourist sector in the Mediterranean. This is particularly so in certain remote areas and small islands in the region where there is little else to see but the beautiful countryside and picturesque views of well-kept fields and valleys lined by trees. And it is for this reason that most agro tourists visit such areas.

To get away from it all and to spend time close to nature in a relaxed environment. And where better to do this than on a farm, with the farmers, eating fresh produce at the same time, which has just been brought from the field.

This has particularly been the case in Malta where, especially on Sundays, the countryside is flooded with people trying to get away from the built-up areas. Given our mild weather, the countryside is frequented for a good eight months of the year, from October to May. Some farmers have seen an economic opportunity through this weekly exodus from urban areas, selling their produce directly to the consumer, thus bypassing the middleman. Some have even further developed the idea and have set up a restaurant close to the farm. Fresh vegetables, say lettuce, served at such eating places would have been cut literally minutes earlier.

The added advantage of agro tourism in the Maltese islands is that since the country is small, the tourist is able to link a visit to a farm with a cultural visit to a historical or archaeological site.

Malta's entry into the European Union has given us greater opportunities to advance this sector, both through existing legislation and through financial aid to farmers.

Although there is no legislation governing agro tourism in Malta, yet, several preliminary steps have been taken in laying the foundations for a sound agro tourism sector.

Firstly, through the first Rural Development Plan, a serious attempt was made at restructuring the agricultural sector. This has been done through the agro environment scheme, the rubble walls initiative and the organic farming project.

EU funds were made available to farmers to restore collapsed rubble walls and, thus, enhance the landscape. The organic farming project rewarded farmers for adopting environment-friendly practices.

In fact, out of the six farms certified in 2005, four are in various stages of launching agro tourism ventures. Moreover, through Investments in Agricultural Holdings (this is technically referred to as measure 3.1 of the Rural Development Plan), farmers were given the opportunity to restructure and upgrade their equipment and establishments.

An organic farmer in the area of Fawwara, Siggiewi, has made use of this scheme. He has not only managed, within a year, to produce high quality extra virgin organic olive oil that is fully certified but has also attracted a lot of interest to his farm, that happens to be located in a protected area next to the coast. As a result, he receives close to 50 visitors a week to his farm. Through this venture, the farmer is not only promoting an environment-friendly agricultural practice in an environmentally-sensitive area but he is also attracting a lot of visitors to this remote part of the Maltese countryside. Thanks to his example, several other farmers have shown interest in converting to organic farming and engage in agro tourism as they can see it is a profitable proposition.

In this new age facing Maltese agriculture sector, farmers such as the Fawwara one act as a beacon to the rest of the farming community.

EU membership has brought with it an open market, where the best way to thrive in agriculture is to innovate and exploit one's knowledge and the natural heritage in a sustainable way which can also be done by making the best of new agro business opportunities such as those emanating from agro tourism.

Dr Agius is Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries.