Environment Minister Leo Brincat, also responsible for agriculture, has denied that housewives were barred from buying agricultural produce from the pitkali.

He said this only took place from March 13 to 25 while a new control system was being introduced to curb abuse and safeguard farmers’ income.

Mr Brincat said total sales between 2011 and 2014 had always been strong: €784,772, €918,765, €1,110,642 and €1,107,282. The new control system had seen sales to housewives go to €1,312 in April 2015, against €84,357 in April 2014 and €91,647 in April 2013. This clearly showed how farmers’ interests had been safeguarded.

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