Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1512911
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 DECEMBER 2023 8 COMMERCIAL Funds to assist farmers in implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) on their holdings LOCAL farmers are once again invited to apply for and bene- fit from funding opportunities available under the new CAP Strategic Plan for Malta cover- ing the 2023-2027 period, under schemes which are beneficial for the climate and environment, aptly named "Eco-Schemes". One of these schemes concerns Integrated Pest Management (IPM) which is an effective and environmentally sensitive ap- proach to pest management. Local farmers are being assisted in implementing such practices through EU funding, and may benefit from a support rate of €224.80 per tumolo per year. In order to be eligible, farmers must have a minimum of 0.3 hectares (Ha) of eligible agricultural land where parcels must be of a mini- mum of 0.04 Ha in size. This ar- ea is to be committed under the scheme for which beneficiaries must provide an Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPMP) is- sued by a recognised farm ad- visory service which is the Ag- riConnect. The closing date for submitting requests for financial assistance under this scheme is the 15th December 2023, and this is to be done at the Agricul- ture and Rural Payments Agen- cy's (ARPA) Front Office situat- ed in Pitkali Markets, Ta' Qali or Xewkija, Gozo. AgriConnect of- fers assistance and technical ad- vice to farmers helping them to identify and tackle any obstacles and technical problems that they encounter in their operations. Speaking about the benefits of the scheme, a local farmer who participated in the programme over the past years, explained how by implementing IPM methods to his land, such as mulching and importing con- trolled and approved seeds, he has managed to increase yield from his crops while using less pesticides. This in turn resulted in more genuine, pesticide free products while lowering pro- duction costs since he purchased less pesticides. The IPM subsidy also helped to relieve the costs of implementing the pest manage- ment strategies. IPM programmes use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environ- ment. Together with available pest control methods, this data is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible haz- ard to humans, animals, and the environment. The general prin- ciples of integrated pest man- agement intend to prevent and/ or possibly suppress harmful or- ganisms through options other than the use of pesticides, pro- moting practices such as: • Crop rotation; • Use of adequate cultiva- tion techniques; • Use of pest-resistant and verified seeds; • Managing sowing, plant- ing, or harvesting dates; Water/irrigation management; -Soil and nutrient management (including mulching, zero/low tillage, fertiliser management) and practices to enhance the build-up of naturally existing predator populations, among others. In June 2022, the European Commission adopted proposals for a new Regulation on the Sus- tainable Use of Plant Protection Products, which includes the new Sustainable Use of Pesti- cides Regulation (SUR), aiming to be the first step towards an effective and coherent pesticide reduction policy across the Eu- ropean Union (EU). The regula- tion sets out EU-wide targets to reduce by 50% the use and risk of chemical pesticides by 2030, in line with the EU's Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies. Eco-Schemes are an essential component under direct pay- ments during the 2023-2027 programming period. Such schemes take the form of annual or multi-annual commitments involving a wide range of agri- cultural practices to be under- taken by farmers through the incentive of accessing favourable financial support which is es- sential for the sustainability of the local farming sector. These schemes play an important role in enhancing the delivery of en- vironmental, climate and animal welfare targets that contribute to the achievement of goals estab- lished under EU-wide policies from the European Green Deal to the the Farm to Fork and Bio- diversity Strategies. For more information regard- ing these schemes, kindly con- tact the Agriculture and Rural Payments Agency (ARPA) via telephone on 22 926 148 or via email sent to arpa.mafa@gov.mt. One may also refer to the sim- plified guidelines for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) found on AgriConnect's website www. agriconnect.gov.mt. Marsovin launch of first vintages Antonin Noir Riżerva Vintage 2020 ON Friday 1st December Mars- ovin launched its first vintage of Antonin Noir Riżerva Vintage 2020 at Michelin Starred restau- rant ION Harbour. Antonin Rizerva is a limited-edi- tion wine made from a blend of hand-picked Merlot and Caber- net Sauvignon grapes grown on Marnisi estate, Marsovin's largest privately owned vineyard. The event consisted of a six- course tasting menu, carefully cre- ated by the chefs at ION Harbour, paired with six premium Mars- ovin wines which included An- tonin Noir Riżerva and Marsovin' s Grand Maître prized and highly sought after flagship wine. High- lights from the menu included 'Maltese wagyu beef, malta grown boltardy beetroot from Joseph's farm and roasted bone sauce with bone marrow". Jeremy Cassar, CEO of Mars- ovin, expressed his pride in An- tonin Noir Riżerva stating, "Our passion for producing wines of exceptional character has always been Marsovin' s culture. The An- tonin Riżerva is an extension of this tradition." The Riżerva winemaking pro- cess involves the careful selection of the Merlot and Cabernet Sau- vignon grapes during the harvest and once again in the winery to ensure only the very best grapes are used for this wine. The Fer- mentation process takes place in stainless steel tanks, followed by 18 months of maturation in French oak barrels. This aging process is then complemented by an additional 6 months of bottle aging, allowing the wine to devel- op complexity and a refined finish, resulting in a bold, velvety, and full-bodied red with dark cherry and redcurrant nature, with a har- monious and judicious balance of fruit and oak. Only 670 bottles have been produced and will be available at Marsovin Cellars, leading restau- rants, and wine shops. Photo by Sean Mallia