Maltese Farmers Have Ample Reason To Make Their Voices Heard Too, MEP Candidate Says
Farmers have taken to the streets across Europe, and PN MEP candidate Peter Agius has warned that Maltese counterparts have ample reason to join in the wave.
“In Europe, thousands of farmers are closing off roads and entire towns out of anger against new EU rules. They are still quiet in Malta, but Maltese farmers have more reason to protest than their European counterparts,” Agius said.
He said European farmers are protesting against the aggravation of conditions that their Maltese peers have already grown accustomed to.
For example, he said while farmers are protesting the proposed halving of chemical pesticide use under the European Green Deal, Maltese farmers have already slashed their pesticide use by three quarters due to staggering costs.
“Farmers in the Netherlands and Germany protested because tax breaks on agricultural diesel have been phased out. In Malta, they never had these tax breaks to begin with,” he added.
“Farmers in France protested because fertiliser use is set to decline, but Maltese farmers have had to reduce fertiliser use for years because the price shot up and no one invested in local fertiliser production.”
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“Farmers in Spain protested because Moroccan fruit and vegetables have taken over 30% of their market, but in Malta, imported produce has already taken over 75% of the market.”
Agius said he believes the time has come for Maltese farmers and people in favour of food security to “make their voices heard”.
“I will do my part, as I have been doing these past five years, but we must now unite to push for concrete change,” he said.
Cover photo: Left: A recent farmers’ protest in France (X/ @stillgray)
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