The Government has embarked on discussions with the European Commission to get an additional €4 million funds for agricultural purposes to add to the €4 million already allocated for farmers.

Speaking during a visit to Big Foot Farm at Maghtab, a rabbit breeding farm and slaughterhouse, Agriculture Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes said that the previous government had promised farmers they would all benefit from this measure.

But when Malta was allocated €15 million in 2009, 400 farmers had benefitted.

Close to 500 farmers had now applied to benefit but the budget was only €4 million and only 35 had been approved to benefit.

Mr Galdes said that the secretariat had been given orders for the results not to be issued before the election.

Farm owner Joseph Mamo said he had invested €300,000 in his farm because of the promise that all applicants would benefit.

He had now been told he would not. She said that when he invested €80,000 in 2009, he had been given €38,000.

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