The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal Rights Anton Refalo, during a news conference with the theme “Malta we want for our Children”, spoke on the 2022 Budget. -designing a number of measures linking to the common theme of how to achieve a stronger and more sustainable local food production chain.
Minister Refalo mentioned the investment in control systems and facilities to sell the Maltese product according to higher market standards, in order to combat sales fraud, and to achieve distinction through quality marks and certification. .
He also mentioned how incentives will be created to cultivate more land but at the same time achieve the goals of the Farm to Fork strategy. He also spoke about other measures planned for the coming months that will link up with ongoing work in the food sector to continue incentives and development in order to draw up a common vision for the food chain. be based on the realities and challenges that characterize food security in our country. As part of the process of developing a national food policy, a strategy and action plan on organic production in Malta will be drawn up.
For the first time, in this year’s budget, € 125,000 has been allocated for the neutering of stray cats in order to help reduce the number of cats born on the streets and which unfortunately end up sick or worse. . The feasibility of setting up a state-of-the-art and advanced rehoming centre will be explored in detail, with investment in the development of a National Animal Protection Strategy. The pet cemetery will start operating from next year.
Maltese and Gozitan fishermen will have the best infrastructure to facilitate their work as much as possible. Following the investments made in scales, in good fish unloading facilities, in the restoration of winch rooms, as well as in regional offices such as Mġarr Għawdex and Marsaxlokk, the infrastructure will now be improved through a project. installation of water and electricity pillars. A project that is expected to positively affect fishermen in various communities including Marsa, Wied il-Għajn, Birżebbuġa and in Gozo.
Continuous improvement and maintenance is being carried out in the middlemen’s building to always update the place accordingly, a place from which food comes out for the consumer. This has always been done in full consultation with the farmers ’associations so that together with the management of the agency we can achieve the objectives of the work of the same agency when it comes to the food sector in our country. With an investment of around € 100,000, among other ongoing projects, the roofs of the middlemen have been replaced to ensure that the product delivered fresh every day by the farmer is left in a decent place so that it can then be delivered to the consumer.
With a clear vision, the government is carrying out measure after measure to further improve the lives of the Maltese and Gozitan workers and people.
