Update with MaYA statement below: The Ministry of Agriculture has said that it “deplores the actions taken by the Pitkala Association to stop the Farmers ’Cooperative and other non-members of the Association from selling agricultural products from the Pitkalija Centre.
The Ministry in a statement argued that “these actions will disrupt the operation of the market and will have a negative effect on the farming community.”
It explained that these actions are being taken by the Association in the light of its request to abolish the bank guarantee imposed on any renewal of an intermediary’s license or issuance of a new license.
The Ministry stressed that the bank guarantee is intended to act as a security instrument so that any payment due by the intermediary is honoured and therefore this is not a “frivolous thing that was created simply to create some extra burden on the intermediary.”
The Ministry also said that it has had several meetings with the Association and has always shown good faith in the discussions. This issue was discussed as well as other demands, including the increase in the commission with the Association asking for it to be doubled.
In the interest of the sector and the consumer, the Ministry said that it is “ready to find a final solution that does justice to all parties concerned.”
“However, until an agreement is reached on an alternative system providing the same level of insurance, the renewal of licenses or the issue of new licenses should be subject to a guarantee,” the Ministry stated.
The Ministry stressed that it cannot risk exposing unpaid farmers. “Furthermore, the fact that the members of the Association ran out of operating licenses cannot for any reason be attributed to the Ministry,” it said.
In order to mitigate the impact of the Association’s action, the Ministry said that, with the help and cooperation of farmers’ associations, is taking the necessary measures to support farmers to sell their own products from the Pitkalija Centre.
On Monday, farmers will be able to enter the Pitkalija Market at 2.00am and Ministry officials will be guiding farmers to a space from which they can sell their products directly. Vegetable sellers will be allowed to enter the Pitkalija Centre at 4.00am to allow time for farmers to set up shop.
The Ministry concluded by saying that as promised, this year it began implementing the reform of the Pitkalija operation, which aims to improve the farmer’s position in the value chain by improving the product traceability and transaction transparency. “The project will also improve to increase consistency in the quality of the product reaching the final consumer.”
MaYA Foundation statement
The Malta Youth in Agriculture Foundation (MaYA Foundation) said that it has been closely monitoring the impending situation within the Pitkali Markets.
“Since many of the independent Pitkala (middlemen) are not operating, we are anticipating that various farmers will not be able to trade their produce as usual. The timing for this disruption could not have been any worse considering that production is at its peak,” it said.
The Foundation, in a statement said that ,”it is understood that the Farmers’ Central Cooperative Society Ltd. (FCCS) which acts also as a middleman to its members was to provide its service on Monday, but even if they are allowed to do so, all its efforts will not be enough to cater for all the local supply.”
It pointed out that this cooperative, which is the longest standing collaboration between producers, is a farmer-centred entity which trades at the Pitkalija premises in Ta’ Qali.
MaYA went on to say that, “in a somewhat unexpected turn of events, after months of discussing the Pitkalija Reform [1] we are informed that Pitkalija Ltd. (which held a central role in the consultation) is no longer responsible for the Pitkali Markets, and that operations have been taken over by the recently established Malta Food Agency.”
It concluded by saying that, “while acknowledging that this is a delicate situation where everyone involved needs to be fairly treated and compensated, we appeal to the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal Rights to make sure that this situation does not lead to further burdens on producers and provide all the necessary resources to avoid food waste especially in the midst of a pandemic.”