Good news for farmers and consumers

The setting up of the farmers’ direct vegetable market at Ta’ Qali is a welcome step forward to free the farmers and consumers from the grip of the Pitkali commission kings.

This is good news both for the farmers and more so for the long-suffering consumer.

A word of praise must go to the relevant ministry and the authorities concerned who finally took this courageous decision after years of abusive practices by the Pitkali market, with their lucrative but antiquated and unfair methods of operation.

The consumer now hopes that the days of a small group ofbusinessmen hijacking a product simply to extract commission and dictate the price of fresh vegetables on the market are on the way out.

One also hopes such markets will be extended to other areas.

The Burmarrad church square would be an excellent venue for the next farmers’ vegetable market, since this area is the hub of farming activity in the north of the island and is easily accessible to both vegetable-growing farmers in the area and consumers.