Updated | Prime Minister turns up at farmers protest on Floriana Granaries

Prime Minister Robert Abela has turned up at the farmers’ protest in Floriana.

Farmers could be heard complaining with the PM about the overregulation which governs the sector, insisting such bureaucracy is killing off the sector.

“You do not know what it means to be a farmer, none of you do. You’re not understanding that you are killing off the sector!” one of the protestors could be heard telling Abela.

Maltese farmers joined the Europe-wide protests against the EU plans they say will threaten the livelihoods of farmers.

The event was a rally of agricultural and non-agricultural vehicles that departing from the Ta’ Qali farmers’ market, and proceeded towards Floriana.

Vehicles that departed from the Ta’ Qali car park, adjacent to the farmers' market, and proceed towards Floriana, passing through Attard, Mosta, Lija, Birkirkara, Msida, and Pieta, finally arriving in Floriana (Triq Sarria) where vehicles will be parked, and a press conference held.

Farmers are also voicing their concerns on how the sector is being ignored by the political class, leading to its eventual demise.

They insist the importation of products is forcing consumers to buy foreign products over Maltese ones.

The farmers are also complaining on what they claim is over-regulation imposed by EU law.

On Thursday, MaltaToday reported that Maltese farmers intending to join the protest were contacted by the Agriculture Ministry to not participate in Friday’s protest.

'The weight of such decisions should not be carried by the ordinary worker' - Robert Abela

Speaking to journalists after his unannounced visit, Prime Minister Robert Abela criticised the European Union for its “overly bureaucratic” laws, which leave the “small” worker behind.

“What we saw today is an element of frustration with a law drafted in bureaucratic offices, and which ignores the very people who are in the fields day and night,” Abela said.

Responding to MaltaToday, Abela defended his government’s work within the sector and insisted that besides the promised task force, that never kicked off, other vital work had been done.

After the pandemic, the government had promised an agency that would oversee food. Within the agency was supposed to be a task force that regulates abuse within the sector.

The Malta Food Agency was launched soon after, together with a barcode system for the regulation of food coming in or out of the Pitakilja.

According to farmers, however, no task force had been launched to regulate abuse, especially in regards to prices and importation of foreign food stuff.

Abela acknowledged that the farmers’ demands were not all directed towards the European Union and said more work could be done on the local sphere.

Abela explained that he would voice the discontent of local farmers towards the European Union.

“It is good that we move towards a more sustainable future, and we believe in standards too. But we simply cannot ignore people’s realities. The weight of such decisions should not be carried by the ordinary worker,” Abela said.