Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo and Minister for European Funds and Implementation of the Electoral Programme Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi attended a ceremony to award certificates to participants who successfully completed courses organised by the Public Slaughterhouse as part of the SlaughterhouseTrain project, co-financed by the European Union.
During the ceremony, certificates were awarded to almost two hundred participants who took part in eight different courses aimed at strengthening the skills of farmers and workers in the livestock and meat sector, through an investment of €165,000 in training.
Minister Anton Refalo stated that success in the agricultural sector depends on a continuous commitment to learning and skills development, while emphasising that training is helping to translate investments and research into new products and concrete opportunities for the local market. He also noted that the fruits of these courses are already being seen through new initiatives and products that are reaching consumers.
Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi emphasised how this project is a clear example of how European funds are investing directly in people and their skills. He explained that European support in the agricultural sector is not limited to infrastructure, but includes strong investment in human capital and innovation.
“These European funds are a direct investment in villagers, farmers and workers in the sector. This investment helps them to be more professional, more competitive and more sustainable. Training projects such as this show how through knowledge and training we can give added value to local production and have a more resilient future for Maltese agriculture,” said Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi.
Director General Stefan Cachia thanked the participants for their commitment and said that, “participation in these courses shows that the Maltese agricultural sector is ready to learn, adapt and apply new ideas to continue improving the quality of the products that reach the market.”
The ceremony highlighted the role of the Public Abattoir not only as a production facility, but also as a learning and innovation centre that is contributing to the sustainable development of the Maltese agricultural sector.
Photos: DOI/MAFA–MFI
