Production of potatoes is growing and exports, which up to a few years ago only went to the Netherlands, have now diversified to the UK, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, Resources Minister George Pullicino said today.

He was speaking during a visit to a farm near Qrendi which has been granted €103,500 in EU funds that will cover half the cost of new equipment, including a new irrigation system and a modern tractor.

Mr Pullicino and Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said, said that such funds were helping to modernise the agricultural sector in Malta.

He said that vine-growing was another sector which was growing fast, and the areas under vine were together six times the size of Valletta.

Mr Pullicino and Dr Said were greeted by three generations of farmers, Wigi Muscat, 88, Salvu Muscat 47 and Michael Caruana, 23, who spoke on how farming methods and equipment had changed over the years.

Dr Said said that €100 million in EU funds had been allocated for the Maltese agricultural sector. The funds would be used for new equipment, sustainable energy and the training of farmers.

Mr Pullicino said that contrary to the popular view, the majority of full-time farmers were under 40 years old.