Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/960495
maltatoday SUNDAY 1 APRIL 2018 News 5 JAMES DEBONO MALTA'S humble potato, one of its most celebrated exports, is facing a crisis. Over a decade, exports fell from 7,200 tonnes in 2004 crop to just 3,100 tonnes in 2014, a massive 56% drop. This relentless decline of potato culti- vation in Malta was documented in an overview of the agricultural sector in the national 2018-2028 policy that described export levels falling "drastically" in 2015 and 2016 due to the shortage of rainfall. Even the area dedicated for the cultiva- tion of potatoes in the Maltese islands has declined from 1,100 hectares in 2004 to 700 hectares in 2014 During the same period, the total estimat- ed volume of potatoes produced by Maltese farmers fell from 22,783 tonnes to 12,559 tonnes: a drop of 44%. The writing has been on the wall since 2009 when National Statistics Office fig- ures showed that in the four years follow- ing Malta's accession to the European Un- ion, the area dedicated to the cultivation of potatoes declined from 1,207 hectares in 2003 to just 712 hectares in 2007: a decline of 41%. Land dedicated to potato cultivation de- creased from 820 hectares in 2005 to 712 hectares in 2007, and to just 689 hectares in 2013. Back then, government officials told Mal- taToday that the decline was the direct re- sult of the EU's higher standards of consum- er protection which prevented the export of low-grade potatoes. "Before, potatoes which did not meet the required standards were al- lowed to pass. The grading which was done back then was superficial." But clearly the decline continued in sub- sequent years. "Growing potatoes is a hard task and many farmers feel that it is not worth the effort, considering the high costs," a farmer told MaltaToday. But the policy review shows that very lit- tle has been done in the past years to boost the sector. Indeed it denounces the lack of a clear strategy to improve the export mar- ket. "No adequate local research has ever been carried out to investigate the potential im- proved yield, precocious harvest and the quality parameters of the product." Moreover, in the last decade the Maltese product had to compete with North Afri- can potatoes that were "allegedly placed on the market" using the Maltese label. Assistance from the Special Market Pol- icy Programme for Maltese Agriculture reached €22 million over a period of 10 years, but came to an end in 2014. Maltese eat more imported potatoes Despite the potential for potato produc- tion that can be grown almost all-year round, a considerable amount of potatoes are imported to cater for domestic and tourist consumption. In 2014 45,900 tonnes of potatoes were consumed in Malta, of which 19,000 or 41.39% were produced locally and 27,000 tonnes or 58.82% were imported. Potato exports for the 2014 period stood at 3,100 tonnes, dropping by 27.9% over the previous year. Through proper investments in upgraded potato storage, the demand for this staple food during the summer period from lo- cals and tourists could be satisfied through Maltese production. Potatoes are non-perishable tubers that can be stored for long periods and thus with the correct policy direction, local products can substitute a large share of im- ported potatoes in various forms. How potatoes are exported Maltese spring potatoes are renowned for their taste and quality in various north Eu- ropean countries. The potato crop is con- sidered as the most important cash crop for Maltese farmers who have been exporting potatoes for over a century. The yellow fleshed variety Alpha has es- tablished a solid foothold on the Dutch market. Potatoes are exported in bulk. Potato growers import seeds from Ireland and the Netherlands in autumn so that farmers can plant them between November and January. Apart from importing seeds, Maltese packing houses manage the exportation including grading, product marketing and the export markets. The crop is exported between April and May. The amount of potatoes which are ex- ported is dependent on climatic condi- tions, the frequency of rain, hail, humidity, wind patterns and diseases. Maltese potato in drastic decline Shortage of rain, less agricultural land, and foreign imports have created the perfect storm for the island's tubers Poetry in sacks, but the reality is more prosaic: as part of the European Capital of Culture twinning, Maltese poems were sent in the export sacks to Leeuwarden in the Netherlands, which shares the honour of hosting the ECOC with Valletta. Both countries have strong agricultural ties: Leeuwarden sends potato seed to Malta which is then planted and grown here, to be exported back to Leeuwarden "Growing potatoes is a hard task and many farmers feel that it is not worth the effort, considering the high costs" AROUND 11 tonnes of LPG leaked from a fuel bowser yesterday morn- ing, leading to the evacuation of residents and the closure of roads in the area around the Easygas plant in Marsa. The Civil Protection Department said it responded to a report of an LPG release at 7.30am, where it found that 11 tonnes of LPG had been released from a tanker truck. Six fire engines, 18 fire fighters from Hal Far, Kordin and Hazmat Fire stations, and five officers re- sponded. A number of police of- ficers were also on scene, as were a number of doctors, although no one was injured. All roads within a 600 metre ra- dius of the facility, including Qor- mi Road, Luqa and Valletta Road, Marsa, were sealed off to traffic un- til the area was deemed safe in the afternoon. The operation lasted for five hours, during which the CPD sprayed 280,000 litres of water and 2,000 litres of foam in order to dis- perse the LPG in a safe manner and prevent ignition. Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zam- mit is leading an inquiry into the incident. Residents evacuated, roads sealed off following 11tonne gas leak in Marsa