Clint Camilleri, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights

In implementing a policy, one might think that financing of the policy would be the determining factor for the success of a policy. However, it takes more than money for a policy to be implemented successfully. It takes good management and commitment from the people involved in the policy implementation and a willingness from the stakeholders involved to adopt the policy.

In assessing the willingness of stakeholders (the major beneficiaries of the Agricultural Policy for the Maltese Islands), prior to the design of the policy, the government underwent a vast and thorough consultation phase to map and include areas in the agricultural sector where policy is needed most. This was decisive for the development of the outcomes and vision of the policy, which paved the way to the drafting of the policy as presented earlier this year.

The policy aims to provide longevity to the sector, attracting youths to the field of conservation and the rural economy. The government’s policy intends to attract new people to the sector, through attractive taxation schemes and modernisation of the industry.

The policy aims to provide longevity to the sector, attracting youths to the field of conservation and the rural economy

The designed policy measures focus on a number of areas that in essence can be classified as measures targeted towards government institutions and measures aimed directly at stakeholders involved in the agriculture sector. Government institutions are given direction on how they can improve or vary the service in a way that could be beneficial to the sector. On the other hand, other measures aim to support the sector through various tools, both legislative and financial.

In assuming that all the measures for the improvement of the services offered to the stakeholders by government institutions are implemented, the rest of the measures are based on the willingness of the sector to adopt and participate in the designed policy measures. And this is the challenging part.

The government acknowledges that there are difficulties in the agricultural sector that required attention. The first national agricultural policy ambitiously aims to address these through innovative measures and new methodologies.

This vision contemplates the development of a policy aimed at the following critical targets: increasing the competitiveness of active farmers and livestock breeders by focusing on quality and encouraging diversification; facilitating the entry of young farmers by creating a cost-effective agri-business sector; fostering sustainability of farming activities by adapting to the local geo-climatic conditions; ensuring that farmland is managed by genuine farmers for agricultural purposes and related activities.

The policy identified a gap in the lack of cooperation between the stakeholders in this sector that is hindering the much-needed advancements. One of the measures identified is to encourage the setting up of stakeholder networks. This will allow for more success stories rooted in cooperation within the agricultural sector by strengthening the role of the Agricultural Consultative Council in order to transform it into a rural partnership geared towards rural diversification, social integration and landscape management. The agricultural sector has been awaiting a policy that serves as the government’s vision for the years to come. It is a commitment to the stakeholders that any initiatives that the government will be taking in the coming years will be linked to the policy. This guarantees a stable environment for stakeholders and guides them to the investments that are needed to have a successful sector.

The strength of the implementation relies on the full participation of stakeholders that make the most of this opportunity. This will be key to determine the policy’s success.

Edwin Vassallo, Opposition Spokesman for Self-Employed, SMEs, Cooperatives, Agriculture and Fisheries

The success with regards to the implementation of the National Agricultural Policy (NAP) in our country depends entirely on the government’s ability and its determination to implement such policy. I promise on behalf of the Nationalist Party that we will work together with the government for a successful NAP.

This is a challenging moment, on which the livelihood of our farmers (including livestock breeders) depends. It is of great importance that the government understands that it is its utmost duty to save and protect the national food supply, be that the produce from arable land or from farms. As a nation we cannot be heavily dependent on imports. Local, fresh produce is essential to the wellbeing of our citizens and needs to be high on the agenda.

Imported food products will never measure up to the freshness and genuine Maltese produce produced by both Maltese and Gozitan farmers for consumption. We are willing to shoulder all political responsibility so that when we are in government, we can offer peace of mind for continuity to all those involved. We are determined to make the agricultural sector more sustainable and from which we can all benefit.

Today’s greatest challenge is the appreciation of the farmers’ work, which will allow them to continue working profitably. Today our farmers fear the future of this sector. In our country, full-time farmers are on the decrease, while at the same time we have a growing population, hence a growing food demand.

Local, fresh produce is essential to the well-being of our citizens

 Therefore, the food security issue needs to be addressed by this policy. It should, among others, attract young farmers to take on a career in the sector, while encouraging farmers to produce more in a sustainable manner to meet the growing demand. However, in doing so, we need to make sure that farmers receive an adequate and profitable return for their hard work.

If the problems that our farmers face, are not well addressed, we will lose any hope of having any young farmers willing to continue working within the sector. In less than 20 years’ time the number of farmers working on a full-time basis will have decreased drastically. The government is presented with its last chance of preserving the future of this sector. There are two options, success or failure! However if the government fails to produce a successful NAP, the actual farmers themselves and us Maltese will suffer because we will not be able to buy local fresh produce. Hence, our focus should be our farmers, how to keep them and how to attract new ones.

It is of national importance to save this sector which is facing big challenges due to the cultural transitions in society and the construction sites all over the island, which are taking, in some cases, good arable land.

I fully believe this sector is not substitutable, there is no alternative. This sector does not compare to any other, like for example the manufacturing sector which has been replaced by the gaming sector.

Therefore as the opposition’s spokesman on the sector, I wish to reiterate my promise to work hard so that we may achieve a successful National Agriculture Policy, a policy which needs to keep in view the diverse problems and challenges within the sector such as the problems caused due to the imports of agricultural produce, the lack of organisation in the pitkalija, the land ownership issue and the hostile attack on the local farmers by articles in our local media.

I wish to work with all concerned so that together we can achieve a successful implementation of NAP for the common good.

If you would like to put any questions to the two parties in Parliament send an e-mail marked clearly Question Time to editor@timesofmalta.com.