Agriculture in neglect

If there was any point in time when local agriculture required a dedicated ministry this must certainly be now, when the practice of agriculture in Malta is subject to the European Common Agricultural Policy. Against all logic, agriculture has been relegated to an insignificant part of a ministry that is next to exclusively interested in environment management and juggling the rubber-stamping Mepa. To the Minister's credit, this is more than a handful and in my opinion he is doing a relatively good job, however as far as agriculture is concerned his absence is disturbing and that of the Parliamentary Secretary even more. This absence is evident in the lack of effective management of local agriculture, the absence of guidance and of creative and innovative polices in favour of creating market space for local produce and the malfunctioning EU funds Paying Agency and its supporting functions, all of which are fundamental to the sustainability of the sector.

The opposition seems to be interested in sustaining this "watering down" stance, if not celebrating it. In fact, the aspiring minister has been recently pushing hydrology as the feather in the cap of a new beginning for local agriculture, so it would come as no surprise that if the MLP is returned to power we will have a Ministry for Hydrology and Rural Affairs. This is an egoistically wise move from the shadow speaker on at least two counts. First, there is much less public controversy on hydrology than there is on the environment and second much work (although possibly not enough) is currently being done by another ministry within the current administration.

Moreover in relation to agriculture the intentions of this proposed effort are far from clear beyond electoral clichés, especially because agriculture practice and the hotel industry are (to an extent beyond reasonable alternatives) substantially contributing to the problem of the water resource sustainability. Regulating this use is an extremely sensitive issue that can drastically if not irreversibly, affect the competitiveness and livelihood of these industries. Whilst granted that water is also an agricultural problem, other market related issues are of urgent interest to the sector, and should occupy the most of electoral promises.

As things stand today, none of the two main political parties are directing the deserved effort to the sector.