A lack of political expertise, widespread use of chemicals, competition from abroad, alien species introduced due to lax controls and dwindling interest within the farming community are the biggest threats facing the fruit-growing industry in Malta.
That is the view of environmentalist Alfred Baldacchino, a former planning authority assistant director who was responsible for the protection of biodiversity.
Competition from imported fruits was making life harder for farmers, he said.
“Though imported fruits may be cheaper and more appealing to the eye, they might not necessarily taste better. Locally-grown tomatoes are a case in point.”
However, the challenges also come from within, such as lack of interest from the new generations in taking up farming, possibly due to the time one has to dedicate to it and the uncertain returns. The ever changing climatic conditions and lack of adequate supply of good water were also issues, he said.
Mr Baldacchino questioned the competence and expertise of local authorities, saying that in the past 10 years the government’s experimental farm at Għammieri had not been given much attention – it had become more of a place to keep domestic pets.
Chemicals are decimating pollinators
“The political will and expertise have been going downhill for a decade and the long-promised agriculture action plan is yet to materialise,” he said.
He did not mince his words: did politicians want to safeguard the farming community or were they on the side of indiscriminate use of commercial chemicals?
The widespread use of chemicals for short-term benefits was harming the ecosystem in spite of safeguards dictated by the EU.
“Chemicals are decimating pollinators, such as insects, notably bees, and without them fruit flowers cannot be fertilised, resulting in lower crops. They also decimate beneficial insects, like ladybirds, that control pests.”
Higher dependence on chemicals was also being dictated by the uncontrolled introduction of foreign and invasive species of flora and fauna. One of the results of such policy was the establishment of the African long-horned beetle originating from Central Africa, which had devastated black mulberry trees (tut) and was now turning its attention to the white species (ċawsli).
Other renowned invasive species include the red palm weevil, the geranium bronze butterfly and the tomato leaf miner moth.
Farmers’ cooperatives were not very proactive in flagging such issues, he said, adding that it did not help that some of them could be involved in commercial activities. Their silence could help to erode the industry further.