The Ministry of Agriculture has released a statement showing how government aid is benefiting farmers.
“Around 450 farmers and villagers will be benefiting from financial aid with an amount of €3.6 million, which will help them invest in their fields, through a simplified scheme.
Like all other European funds this scheme is administered by the Management Authority which operates without any political interference and according to fixed and established criteria. The scheme in question shows that farmers and villagers can benefit up to 50% percent of the expenditure they make or a maximum of €15,000, whichever amount is lower.
This scheme is intended for small grants with a grant value for which limited documentation has been requested from the applicant. However, in accordance with the principles of governance and good financial management, the information presented has been analyzed to ensure that the grants awarded are eligible and represent the current market value.
Farmers who wish to reapply for this scheme will be able to do so in the first quarter of 2025 when this scheme is launched again, while the same scheme is currently open with an allocation of €10M, for projects greater than €30,000.
This Government, as always, remains committed to being a shoulder for Maltese and Gozitan farmers and villagers. This has been shown by the facts that the same farmers and villagers are benefiting from an unprecedented level of direct funds that go straight into their pockets to assist them in their operation. It was also this very Government that saved hundreds of farmers from losing the crops they had been working for many years and this through the reform of the tribal law, a law that the Nationalist Party in Government never wanted to address.
The Government will continue to work hand in hand with those genuine farmers and villagers in this case, and therefore those who feel aggrieved by any decision will be given the opportunity to present their complaint and where they are right will be given the opportune remedies”.
Source: DOI
