The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo has launched an aid scheme for farmers to compensate for the costs related to the purchase of irrigation water during the summer months. This scheme has an allocation of €700,000 from national funds.
He explained that water is one of the biggest challenges for agriculture in Malta, especially due to climate change. “For many farmers, the only solution remains to buy water with bowsers at great expense, especially in the summer months. This scheme is a practical and targeted measure to reduce the burden on farmers and keep our farming healthy and sustainable,” the minister said.
To apply, farmers must:
- Be registered as active farmers with the Agricultural and Rural Payments Agency (ARPA).
- They would classify as Category 2 or higher.
- They will be beneficiaries of the ‘Areas with Natural Constraints (ANC)’ scheme during 2024.
- They make use of irrigation water on their irrigated fields through water purchased from bowsers.
- They will have purchased a water supply equivalent to the minimum required for each category, between 1 June and 30 September 2025, as shown in the guidelines.
Applicants must also submit a crop plan for the summer period and retain fiscal receipts from water suppliers licensed by the Regulator for Energy and Water Services (REWS) showing the volume of water purchased. There is no need to submit receipts at the application stage. After the summer is over and the list of eligible applicants is issued, the Agricultural and Rural Payments Agency (ARPA) will request the submission of these receipts.
Applications will be open from 12 August to 26 September 2025. Interested farmers can apply by visiting the ARPA Offices in Pitkalija or the Xewkija Experimental Farm in Gozo. Applications must be received before the deadline. Further details can be found in the detailed guidelines on the arpa.gov.mt website.
For more information, farmers can contact ARPA on 22926148 or send an email to arpa.mafa@gov.mt .
