Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/279808
News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 19 MARCH 2014 Republic Street, Valletta next to the Courts 52% think farmers should be guardians of environment JAMES DEBONO 52% of the Maltese think that the main responsibility of farmers is that of protecting the environ- ment. Moreover, 58% of Maltese think that the most important reason for maintaining agriculture in all parts of the EU is because it en- hances the environment while a further 17% think that agriculture helps in protecting the country- side. The Maltese are the most likely in Europe to associate agriculture with environmental protection. Along with the Italians, the Mal- tese are also the most likely to think that agriculture should be maintained to protect the coun- tryside. The results of the survey coin- cide with the revision of Outside Development Zone (ODZ) policies in Malta to permit more develop- ment in the countryside in the shape of agricultural facilities and agro-tourism. But the emphasis on development could contrast with the expectation of society that farmers have a responsibility to protect the environment and the countryside. Respondents interviewed in the EU-wide survey carried out in De- cember were asked to state the two main responsibilities of farmers to society. Only 32% of Europeans in gen- eral mentioned protecting the environment as farmers' main re- sponsibility. For Europeans the most impor- tant responsibilities of farmers are supplying good quality products (38%) and maintaining economic activity and employment in rural areas (36%). While supplying the population with good quality products is seen a main responsibility of farmers by 45% of Maltese, only 22% think that maintaining economic activ- ity in rural areas is the main re- sponsibility of farmers. Protecting the environment is the main responsibility attributed to farmers in six member states: Denmark (55%), Malta (52%), Cy- prus (48%), France (46%), Luxem- bourg (46%) and Romania (42%). The welfare of farmed animals is the principal responsibility of farmers in three member states: Sweden (49%), the Netherlands (46%) and the United Kingdom (45%). Only 28% of Maltese think that protecting animals is farmer's main responsibility. Moreover, while only 29% of Eu- ropeans in general think that the most important reason for main- taining agriculture in all parts of Europe is to protect the environ- ment, the percentage rises to 58% in Malta. Moreover, a further 17% of Mal- tese respondents think that the most important reason to safe- guard agriculture would be to pro- tect the beauty of the countryside. 59% of Europeans and 57% of Maltese mention the notion that agriculture benefits society through the production of food. The argument that agriculture protects the environment was most mentioned by Maltese respond- ents (58%), and is also mentioned by more than a third of respond- ents in Austria (39%), Luxembourg (36%), Cyprus (35%) and Romania (35%). However, it has lost ground in a majority of member states, due to a marked rise in interest in the social and economic impacts of agriculture. The fact that agriculture con- tributes to the beauty of the coun- tryside is mentioned slightly more than average in Italy (17%) and Malta (17%), but it is still a lesser reason in the majority of member states. YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt The Maltese are the most likely in Europe to associate agriculture with environmental protection