Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1540549
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 OCTOBER 2025 NEWS Farmers turn to organic alternatives as fertiliser use falls THE quantity of inorganic fer- tilisers used in Maltese agricul- ture fell sharply in 2024 com- pared to the previous two years, according to data published by the National Statistics Office (NSO). Malcolm Borg, coordinator of Għaqda Bdiewa Attivi, said the decline reflects a shift in farm- ing practices, driven by the ris- ing cost of synthetic fertilisers and a growing focus on better use of organic alternatives. Borg explained that farmers have increasingly turned to or- ganic fertilisers such as animal manure, processed animal ma- nure, and commercial pelleted manure sold in sacks as sub- stitutes for inorganic products that have become more expen- sive. He added that the move is not only a matter of cost-saving but also part of broader efforts to improve soil management and reduce dependence on syn- thetic inputs. He also noted that the drop in fertiliser use may partly reflect a decline in the number of active farmers, though he stressed that there is currently no statistical evidence to confirm this. According to the NSO's latest survey, farmers applied 970,394 kilogrammes of inorganic fer- tilisers in 2024, down from 1.21 million kilogrammes in 2023 and 1.67 million kilogrammes in 2022. Fertiliser sales followed a similar pattern, totalling 981,869 kilogrammes in 2024. The survey found that 3,796.6 hectares, or 39.2% of Malta's total utilised agricultural area (9,691.2 ha), were treated with inorganic fertilisers. The av- erage application rate stood at 75.03 kilogrammes per hectare, with the most commonly used types being those with Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potas- sium (K) ratios of 21-0-0 and 12-12-17, together accounting for nearly 550,000 kilogrammes. In terms of nutrient compo- sition, farmers applied 190,290 kilogrammes of nitrogen, 82,469 kilogrammes of phosphorus, and 95,177 kilogrammes of po- tassium. Despite the reduction in use, imports of inorganic fertil- isers rose slightly to 894,360 kilogrammes in 2024, up from 842,382 kilogrammes in 2023, though still far below the 1.99 million kilogrammes imported in 2022. The NSO noted that 76.5% of fertilisers used in 2024 were purchased during the same year, indicating most farmers relied on fresh stock rather than leftover supplies. JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt