Gozitan farmers : sustainable agricultural practices with regards to soil erosion

Abstract

The agricultural sector in Gozo is very important for the development of the island’s economy and food production. Soil erosion seems to be evident in the Maltese Islands and agriculture is becoming even more exposed to this threat which can become even more serious unless some sort of improvement is done. Sustainable agricultural practices can be the answer to reduce the affects that soil erosion has on local agriculture. However, these practices need to be implemented adequately by promoting them to farmers and helping them understand how they can put them into action. The aim of this dissertation was to get a better understanding of Gozitan farmers’ perceptions on sustainable agricultural practices and to investigate if they are willing to improve their methods to minimize soil erosion. Moreover the RUSLE equation was used to estimate the potential soil erosion from selected locations around Gozo. Farmers were interviewed and the potential soil loss was determined for 9 locations around the island. Results indicated that the local farmers recognize the fact that soil erosion can be a threat to them and they are willing to enhance their methods by opting to sustainable agriculture. Moreover the RUSLE equation results showed that erosion may vary from one place to another and if farmers opt to sustainable practices, erosion can be reduced.