Organic agriculture in Malta

Abstract

This dissertation is about organic crops presently grown in Malta by a few dedicated growers. The aim of the dissertation is to evaluate the systems that are currently used by Maltese organic growers and to concentrate on the principles and preset practices of organic agriculture ( and the possibility of applying them to the Maltese situation). Finally it provides suggestions for the benefit of people who are actively involved with the agricultural industry. Technical material was left out and the suggestions are inclined to be on the theoretical side. Direct personal contact is often far more convincing than any quantity of written material and the best way to know what organic agriculture is about and to look at the changes in management is to visit some of the organic fields. Three organic growers were visited and interviewed. In this dissertation the subject of biological control is given distinctive importance. Two growers who raise their crops in a greenhouses and utilize biological controls were visited. The extensive use of organic manure obtained from livestock, compost and green manure seems to be synonymous with organic agriculture, so a whole chapter was devoted to the subject of soil fertility. It was found that conversion in Malta is still done in a haphazard manner. It is associated with a severe lack of sound information and advice as well as the absence of appropriate research and development work. The knowledge of growers is usually more intuitive than scientific and this self-imposed limitation narrows the farmer 's options. Ready market does not exist and many growers believe that the only possible area for expansion would be to go offshore.