Young farmers have no access to land as the tradition threatened

Sep 5 2021

Speaking to Whoswho.mt, Marsovin CEO Jeremy Cassar explained how young people seeking to continue the tradition of farming are being priced out, threatening the continuation of the practice. Cassar explained how the top challenge is ‘incentivising young farmers to carry on the tradition’. ‘Regardless of the viticultural aspect’ he says, ‘all of agriculture depends on Human Resources willing to do the work.’

Cassar continued by highlighting how many farmers are waging and need to retire and move on. The average age of farmers is 57, but the young farmers coming through can’t get a hold of the land as the sector is pricing them out. He argues that the direct payments coming from the Common Agricultural Policy for farmers growing wheat is ‘a key concern.’ As farmers opt to grow the basic crop which requires little time, effort and resources, they are not putting it on the market for sale to young farmers.

Cassar’s closing and thought-provoking remarks state how agriculture is not about ‘printing money’. Despite very rewarding, it is not extremely profitable, ‘especially when you’re doing it on a small scale.’ He says that the government has a choice to make; to either support farming in Malta or let it slowly die off.

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Photo Source: Whoswho.mt

Bernard Grech says survey shows the improvement of Nationalist Party

Sep 5 2021

Following the publication of the latest trust barometer, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech says that the survey shows how the party is making constant improvement. The MaltaToday survey indicated how current Labour Prime Minister Robert Abela possesses a 22 point lead over Grech, but the Nationalist Party leader says that people are not only understanding their message but also resonating towards it.

The Labour government also seems to have a 33,000 vote lead, even though this shows a drop of around 6,000 since July’s barometer. Grech said that the PN is strengthening itself going forward. Despite not being there yet, the party, Grech says, is, and needs to continue, working harder.

Grech was interviewed on party radio station NET FM. He referred to a recent emergence of fake emails and websites which circulated the media as being a failure on the Labour party’s media house to turn up to an anti-disinformation campaign demonstration held last week. Grech boldly claimed that we have fake news, fake MPs and a fake government.

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Photo Source: Bernard Grech FB

Tuna make a comeback as sharks face extinction

Sep 5 2021

Despite tuna having started a rapid recovery from the edge of extinction, sharks have been suffering the opposite fate. Following a decade of conservation efforts, the number of tuna is racking up higher, despite some tuna stocks experiencing decline. On the other hand, sharks, alongside rays and even Komodo dragons are facing the extinction threat. At least four in ten sharks are threatened with annihilation.

The population of sharks has plummeted as when last assessed in 2014, a third were deemed threatened. Now however, the number has risen to around 37% due to pressures from fishing for meat and fins, climate change and pollution. The World Conservation Congress is set to be held for the first time in five years following postponing due to the pandemic.

Over the nine days of the congress, government ministries, NGOs and indigenous peoples will hammer out conservation proposals back up by a network of 16,000 scientists. Issues to be tackled include wildlife trafficking, plastic pollution and protection of the Amazon rainforest. The meeting is set to ring the alarm bells even louder as it is crucial in determining the future of conservation policy and other threats to the world and its ecosystems.

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Photo Source: BBC Earth, Sport Diver, CSL Fisheries

Spinola Bay noise complaint leads to police officers assaulted

Sep 5 2021

Following a noise complaint in Spinola Bay, St Julian’s, three persons were arrested for assaulting police officers investigating the case. On Saturday morning at around 3:30 am, police received a complaint on loud music being played in the Spinola Bay Area. A large group of people were found on the scene and were subsequently asked to disperse and turn off the speakers. After refusing to obey instructions, three individuals attacked the officers who tried to confiscate the sound equipment.

The two police officers on duty were taken to a medical centre, having been certified to have suffered light injuries. The assailants were all Venezuelan, with two Venezuelan men aged 31 and 24, and a woman aged 26. All three are residents of Swieqi and will be arraigned on Sunday morning in front of duty magistrate Charmaine Galea.

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