We write with reference to the On the Dot item entitled Cowering (May 31). We have managed to locate the farm being referred to in that item. Horror of horrors, one has to see the state of the rest of the farm to understand the extent of the abuse being permitted there.

When one has such an experience, one tends to lose all the trust that we should have in our authorities and governmental agencies responsible to ensure that such abuse does not take place (Agriculture Department, Department for Environmental Health, Fish and Farm Regulation and Control Division, Malta Environment and Planning Authority and Malta Resources Authority).

The Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs has in the past visited state-of-the-art farms in an effort to correct certain impressions that Maltese consumers have about the local animal farms. But when such an offensive example as this is exposed, all the hard work of these farms fades away into obscurity!

We truly believe that many of the farmers want to improve the state of their farms and many have invested large amounts of money to do so but unfortunately, many of the farms around Magħtab are still far from reaching the compulsory standards imposed by law, to the detriment of the residents of the Magħtab, Salini and Baħar iċ-Ċagħhaq areas.

We truly hope that action will be taken to ensure that these farms are identified and remedial action taken as soon as possible. If these farmers have no intention of correcting their course, then the government should close them down as soon as possible. They all know that by now they should have reached compliance and there should be no excuses.

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