Plans for a new system based on Bar-Coding and Computerisation of all transactions at the Vegetable Market

Plans are in hand for the Pitkalija to be furnished with a new system based on bar-coding and computerisation of all transactions at the market.

This was announced by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Ninu Zammit when he was addressing those present for the inauguration of a new crate washing machine at these markets. This machine was bought at a cost of LM61,000 by the company Pitkali Crates Ltd. This company was set up in 1989 with the intention of providing farmers, middlemen and greengrocers with a stream of uniform, clean crates for the supply and display of produce. The Company is supported by a levy of 1c in the LM1 on sales at the pitkali. This levy is paid between the three partners in the business, namely farmers, middlemen and buyers, reducing the effective levy to 1c per LM3 of produce each.

These monies have been used to stock the more than 400,000 crates now available, and to invest in the purchase of this machine. Minister Zammit stressed the importance of hygiene in the handling, transportation and display of produce. Such an initiative is a step in the right direction, fitting in with the overall plan of modernisation and higher standards to be enjoyed by the sector. The Minister also said that plans are also being drawn up for better presentation of produce at the markets, having the vegetables cropped of unnecessary vegetation and graded at source.

Those present were then treated to a display of the new machine in action. The markets often need to clean for re-use up to 25,000 crates in a day of trading.