Minister for Agriculture Anton Refalo has launched the first phase of an agro-forestry pilot project which, he said is the first step that will lead to the implementation of actions on a national basis at a cost of €4 million.
It was explained that this scheme will be used to grow trees along with agricultural activity in the fields. The aim is to improve the biodiversity and conservation of the soil while reducing the impact of wind and increasing the carbon sequestration of agricultural land.
In addition to its environmental and agronomic benefits, this scheme will also beautify the landscape of the Maltese islands while helping the ecosystem to combat climate change and improve the air, the Minister said.
“This national project will be divided into a number of phases. Applications will be limited to pre-selected agricultural holdings where the fields will be of a certain size and adjacent to the buildings in the selected locations. They must also be registered in the Agriculture and Rural Payments Agency(ARPA) system,” Minister Refalo said.
Applications will be accepted at the AgriConnect offices in Mellieha and Zabbar, as well as at the Gozo office in Xewkija .
Successful applicants will be eligible for a maximum of 400 trees and an annual maintenance grant for a period of four years, payable pro rata up to a maximum of €1,000 for per hectare per year, Anton Refalo said.
4,000 trees have been allocated for this scheme, and this amount will be distributed according to the application.
More information and guidelines regarding this scheme will be posted online on the website www.agrikoltura.gov.mt [1].
Photo by Alain Salvary