In
2014, the Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate
Change and the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal
Rights, passed the Malta Agriculture Consultative Council Regulations. This was
in line with government’s electoral promise to set up the development of an
advisory body in order to provide a forum for consultation and dialogue between
the representatives of the various sectors of agriculture and the Government.
Scope
The Agriculture Consultative Council has been entrusted with the task of
advising the Government through the Minister on issues relating to:
(a) agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, and
viticulture; and
(b) breeding and rearing of livestock; and
(c) keeping of bees;
and
(d) processing of agricultural products; and
(e) formulation and implementation of
sustainable agricultural policies.
Composition
The chairperson is supported by seven technical experts in the fields of agricultural
economy, agricultural marketing, the agro-industry sector, livestock nutrition,
agronomy and soil science. There are also six Government members who are the
Directors of the various MSDEC directorates. The Chairperson of the Crop
Farming Committee and the Chairperson of the Livestock Sector Committee also
form part of this council. There is also
a secretary for this council and the two Committees.
Members
of the two sub-committees shall have the opportunity to interact on various
issues in their profession and communicate their concerns regarding appraisal of opportunities
for their agricultural commodities, increase in production and profits of
farms, plus EU support of on-farm development and conservation
practices.
With
feedback from the two committees as well committee member input, the council
shall be in a better position to assess prevailing issues in conjunction with the
social, economic and environmental sustainability of Malta’s agriculture. The set up of the council is specifically designed to
ensure holistic appraisal through technical approaches. Effectively the Council
shall be dedicated to representing the interests of the agricultural sector to
government and the broader community, and to proactively building a greater potential
for agriculture’s role in the Maltese economy, society and environment.
The
ultimate vision is that the
potential benefits of agricultural improvements shall be fully recognized so as
to determine how to provide added value inputs for farmers so as to maximize
the output of existing farms. Consequently the Agriculture Consultative Council
will be in a position to provide the best advice to Government through the
responsible Minister for the benefit of the farming sector, the environment plus
national and global food security.
This year the Council met regularly to consider a
number of proposals. It shall also be reviewing the agricultural policy issues
proposed by a team of consultants engaged to develop a
national Agricultural Policy.