Imtaħleb farmers counting their loses

Maltese MEP Alfred Sant said Maltese and Gozitan farmers deserve the protection of the Maltese government to facilitate their operations in an unjust competitive market they have been facing since Malta joined the EU. Alfred Sant promised farmers that if elected in May’s European elections, he will continue to voice their concerns at the European Parliament. Sant said he will assist the Farmers’ Cooperative to modernise their operatons if they apply for EU funds in 2021 . The Maltese MEP lauded Government’s efforts to help farmers following last week’s storm and said he will do his best to enable farmers use EU funds earmarked for natural disasters.
Alfred Sant visited a family of farmers who are still counting their loses, having had their glasshouses ravaged by the recent storm.
“All kinds of help is appreciated,” farmers told Alfred Sant who work 60 tumolos of fields in Imtaħleb.
One of their three glasshouses was completely destroyed while the other two suffered extensive structural damages. Damages amount to €30,000.
The farmers told Alfred Sant they envisage great difficulties for Maltese agriculture in the absence of all round assistance.

Maltese Version – BDIEWA FL-IMTAĦLEB JGĦODDU L-ĦSARAT TAL-GRIGALATA

Il-bdiewa Maltin u l-Għawdxin jixirqilhom l-appoġġ tal-Gvern Malti biex jgħinhom ikomplu joperaw f’kompetizzjoni inġusta li ilhom jaffaċċjaw mindu Malta daħlet fl-UE qal Alfred Sant lil bdiewa fl-Imtaħleb li għadhom jgħoddu l-ħsarat tal-maltempata. Sant qal li jekk jikseb il-fiduċja tal-elettorat fl-elezzjonijiet Ewropej jibqa’ l-vuċi tal-bdiewa fil-Parlament Ewropew. Wiegħed l-għajnuna tiegħu jekk il-Kooperattiva tal-Bdiewa tkun qed tapplika għal dawn il-fondi Ewropej fl-2021 li tgħin lill-bdiewa jimmodernizzaw l-operat tagħhom. Alfred Sant faħħar l-inizjattiva tal-Gvern li wiegħed l-għajnuna lill-bdiewa li ntlaqtu mill-maltempata. Qal se jagħmel ħiltu biex il-bdiewa jibbenefikaw minn fondi tal-UE maħsuba għal diżastri naturali.
Alfred Sant żar familja tal-bdiewa li għadhom qed jgħoddu l-ħsarat li għamlitilhom il-grigalata tal-ġimgħa l-oħra. “ Kull għajnuna tgħodd,” qalu l-bdiewa li jaħdmu 60 tomna ta’ raba’ fl-Imtaħleb.
Dawn kellhom tliet serer kbar, li waħda minnhom inqerdet għal kollox u t-tnejn l-oħra sofrew ħsarat strutturali kbar. Mit-tliet serer il-kbar waħda hija għar-rimi u t-tnejn l-oħra għandhom ħafna ħġieġ imkisser. Il-ħsarat jammontaw għal €30,000.
Il-bdiewa qalu li jaraw diffikutajiet kbar quddiem il-biedja f’Malta jekk ma jkunx hemm għajnuna profonda.
“Meta titneħħa l-protezzjoni fuq il-biedja f’Malta u tiftaħ il-bibien beraħ ma tfendix.” qalu l-bdiewa lil Alfred Sant.