Indigenous capers

In this country with limited resources, we do have one resource which is largely ignored. I am referring to the caper bush. This can yield great amounts of capers if harvested from mid-May till August.

Let us suppose the Agriculture department creates a number of caper plantations in strategic locations in Malta and Gozo. These can even be waste land and abandoned fields. This plant can adapt itself to any kind of landscape. It will create greenery in summer and help stop soil erosion.

In this way, an industry can be established. The process of preservation, bottling and marketing/export is relatively simple. Surely exporting 100 per cent organic Maltese capers is not that difficult.

The only difficulty of course is the laborious picking. Here is where we need to improvise. We have the student stipend system, victim of its own success, that can become sustainable. Students can pick capers for about 10 days during their holidays, which roughly amounts to 25-30 per cent of their stipend. Anyone can opt out, of course, provided they pay for the absence. This creates a perfect means test. If this is successful it can be extended to the unemployed.

I am convinced that this industry can generate millions of liri. It can compete with tomato, grape and olive production. What is important is that no risk capital is needed. And lastly it will be a clear sign to us all to stop living beyond our means and use everything at our disposal.