Awareness campaign to manage nitrate levels in agriculture and livestock

Resources Minister George Pullicino has launched an information and communications campaign for the proper use and management of nitrates in agriculture and livestock.

The project, part-financed by the European Union, will cost €1,388,584. Through the Life plus project, Malta will receive €689,339 from the EU. It aims to communicate to farmers their key obligations under the European Nitrates Directive and the National Nitrates Action Plan.

"It is a reaching out programme to deliver information to the farmers. Instead of organising courses or asking farmers to come to our department, we are sending our officials to them," Pullicino said during a press conference held at a Rabat field.

A number of ministry officials will visit both farmers and livestock breeders to speak to them about the dangers of high levels of nitrate in the soil and water table to both the human health and the environment.

They will also be provided with a kit for nitrates analysis and information on how to implement a fertilisation plan.

The nitrates analysis will be a very simple process where farmers will have to take a sample of the soil and mix it with distilled water and chemicals provided by the ministry. Farmers would then match the colour of the mixture with a chart. The density of the colour would reflect the amount of nitrates in the soil.

"Our water table has high levels of nitrate which are harmful to both the environment and our health. Today, we have managed to see that farms store manure in clamps rather than placed directly on the soil," Pullicino said.

"However, the problem remains with fertilisers. Excessive amounts of fertiliser contain high levels of nitrates which are infiltrating through the soil. This campaign will help farmers use just the right amount of fertiliser they need."