Stagnant political will, increased bureaucracy and lack of traceability at Pitkalija are some of the challenges that the first farmers' organisation is flagging.

For too long farmers been left to their own devices, battling higher customer expectations and stricter regulations with very limited technical assistance. In the meantime, they have increasingly been alienated from consumers, Malcolm Borg said at the launch of the Għaqda Bdiewa Attivi on Friday.

"Farmers are tired of trying to keep up with lengthy bureaucratic processes, working more than 14 hours every day and not even covering their expenses. They are resilient, but resilience is being abused by the authorities, especially by those promising reforms that never materialised."

Reluctance by farmers to get together was a worldwide phenomenon, however, never until today has the need been greater for Maltese farmers, custodians of our environment and guardians of fresh food on our tables, to come together, he said.

"Farmers toil the soil in silence. I recall people’s shock when they learnt that virgin land – five times the size of the Floriana granaries - was being turned into petrol stations, but little do they know that there are people among us who toil land 10 times the size of the Floriana granaries."

Some apples in the UK would have been harvested six months before they are sold off at supermarkets,”- Suzanne Piscopo

Some 100 farmers have already joined the GħBA and Mr Borg urged others to enrol as unity brought about strength.

This was reiterated by Gozitan farmer Alex Tabone who said that several issues that had taken place to the detriment of farmers had stemmed from lack of unity.

“If there’s some new policy, change or reform in the pipeline, the organisation can voice farmers' concerns louder than farmers are able to do so on their own.

"Issues such as the lack of traceability and transparency at the Pitkalija, could be addressed by the organisation.”

Traceability and price transparency of produce at Pitkalija are a big headache for farmers, as foreign produce could be mixed with local one. Several administrations had long promised a reform at Pitkalija, but none had materialised so far.

Read: Are farmers a dying breed?

Some apples in the UK are sold six months after harvest

Addressing the launch, Suzanne Piscopo said there was nothing better than knowing that what you were buying had not been harvested more than 24 hours before.

“Sometimes produce takes weeks or months to arrive in our shops from abroad. Some apples in the UK would have been harvested six months before they are sold off at supermarkets,” the Head of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Consumer Studies said.

Fruit and vegetables included not just vitamins, but also antioxidants, fiber and minerals, which reduced risks of cancer, slowed the ageing process and lowered glucose and cholesterol levels, she noted, also urging farmers to reintroduce native species such as tuffieħ ta' belludja.

What about pesticides?
Asked about the consumers’ fear of local pesticide use, Mr Borg said that farmers had already flagged the incorrect sampling methods from which conclusions were drawn prematurely.

“Food has to always be clean and within legal limits. All farmers are worried about the pesticide issue as it impacted their product.

“However, instead of focusing solely on regulating farmers and penalising them, we should instead focus on providing farmers with resources and alternatives.”

What does the Għaqda Bdiewa Attivi stand for?
The GħBA will seek to stand up for farmers’ rights to earn a decent living and will be presenting position papers to this effect, proposing reasonable solutions and alternatives to systems and policies that are not benefiting the farmers nor the environment.

Its major goal is the sustainability of the sector for present and future generations in full respect of environmental cycles and consumer demands.

This organisation will also be a point of reference for consumers to get to know about local products.

For more information, contact Għaqda Bdiewa Attiva on ghaqdabdiewaattivi@gmail.com