Gozitan farmers and growers were encouraged to switch to organic farming during a meeting at the Victoria council yesterday.

Information Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said and Malta Standards Authority chairman Francis Farrugia informed them of the benefits of excluding pesticides from the cultivation process, including those of creating a cheaper and more genuine product.

Dr Said also informed farmers of EU schemes designed to encourage growers to switch from traditional to organic methods.

He stressed that organic farming would also help contribute towards the achievement of the eco-Gozo initiative.

Fifteen farmers in Malta are certified to process organic produce. Together they work 22 hectares of land and grow 20 tonnes of organic products a year - one third higher than five years ago.

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