First consignments of Potato exports to Europe

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Ninu Zammit, this morning visited the potato grading station in Ta' Qali, where the process of exportation of potatoes to the European Market has just commenced.

This process has been rendered faster and more efficient by the construction of a new loading platform, specially designed to accommodate the special trailers used for the transport of the crop. Potatoes are being exported in the traditional Maltese xkejjer that have become the characteristic trademark bearer of the local crop.

This first export for this year involves potatoes of the ‘Sante' variety. This was negotiated upon in an agreement entered into on the 20^th October 1998, which allowed for an additional exportation of 600 tonnes of this variety. This agreement represents a 16% increase in the minimum guaranteed price, and up to a 10% increase in the overall exported tonnage over and above the provisions of the agreement entered into by the previous Government for the exportation of potatoes of the Alpha variety.

Minister Ninu Zammit explained the advantages of this variety of potato. It is of a hardier nature and more resistant to adverse weather conditions. The results of this hardiness were immediately apparent, as this year the weather conditions were of particular disadvantage to potato production. Another advantage offered by this variety, Minister Zammit explained, is the earlier crop date, which translates into the acquirement of the better prices available on the Dutch and European markets at this time, and this notwithstanding the general tardiness of the crop as a result of the climatic conditions we suffered this year.

Minister Zammit also referred to EU membership. To date, potato farmers are benefitting from the conditions of the Agreement between the EU and Malta of 1988, which extended the period when Maltese potatoes imported by EU countries are exempt from levies by two weeks i.e. from the 15^thMay to the 31^st May. This gives local farmers an additional window for export without the burden of levies that Non-Member countries have to carry. Full membership would mean that these levies would be lifted totally. EU membership would also help potato farmers who would be in a position to receive grants and subsidies from the EU in direct relation to the area of land that they harvest.