A study of the production of tomato industry in Gozo : factors which are leading to present day problems in this sector and the decrease of the production of tomatoes on the island

Abstract

Gozo is a small island that is part of the Maltese Archipelago with a population of around thirty thousand people. Rurality is a typical characteristic of the island and forms part of the daily routine of the majority of the inhabitants. Agriculture in Gozo has always been a very strong sector and it is considered to be one of the main sources of employment on the island. A number of farmers are specifically focused on the cultivation of tomatoes for processing purposes. They presently encounter various problems such as increasing general costs, decreasing prices and subsidies, competition from abroad, an increase in diseases, and other issues which are all resulting in a general decline in the production of tomatoes. This decline is affecting not only the farmer but also the processor as farmers are not reaching their quota of produce. Action has to be taken in order to keep this sector from failing.