The farmer who raised the alarm on food safety because of slurry dumping on fields is being probed by the agricultural and health authorities.

Four inspectors from the Environmental Health Directorate descended on Paul Abela on August 6 and took several samples of his water sources and also of his agricultural produce.

The directorate has five inspectors who are responsible for ensuring food safety by conducting various agriculture-related checks across the country. This means that the big bulk of the directorate’s inspectors have been deployed to assess Mr Abela’s farm.

He admitted he was surprised to witness such a show of force, especially since this occurred after he received a stern letter from the director of agriculture, Justin Zahra, warning him that the department would be taking all the necessary steps against him if he does not draw up a fertiliser plan, as required by law.

I hope they are also checking those who are really not abiding by the rules and those dumping slurry on fields

Mr Abela says he has no issue with the inspections, as long as they are not specifically targeting him because he had spoken about the slurry problem, which he feels is in the public interest.

Since 2011, he has been trying to raise awareness about farmers paying bowsers about €13 to dump slurry (liquid manure from livestock farms) over their crops.

“It’s good they [the authorities] are doing this because it means they are conducting the necessary checks. But I hope they are also checking those who are really not abiding by the rules and those dumping slurry on fields,” Mr Abela said.

Times of Malta reports on the problem raised by Mr Abela led to an investigation by the Ombudsman, the outcome of which is not yet known. Both the agricultural directorate and the environmental health directorate have, in the meantime, confirmed various reports published by this newspaper.

Health Minister Konrad Mizzi said in Parliament that 19 complaints about the dumping of liquid manure on agricultural fields were received by the government in the last two years.

After he received the letter from the agriculture director, Mr Abela said he immediately took soil samples and handed the results over to the Nitrates Action Unit as required.

He then went to the Farmers Association (ATB) for them to prepare a fertiliser plan for him. But he was told to wait because they were expecting some funds.

However, the agriculture directorate told Times of Malta Mr Abela was expected to go elsewhere to have his fertiliser plan drawn up.

“The directorate will follow up with Mr Abela in due course to examine whether he has taken all the necessary steps to bring himself in conformity and act accordingly,” the directorate said.

When questioned on the reasons behind the intense scrutiny of Mr Abela, the directorate simply said they had received a report about him.

Questions sent to the Environment Health Directorate on the inspections carried out by health authorities remained unanswered at the time of writing.