Mice infestation persists as authorities pass the buck

Farmers dealing with a growing mice infestation say they are continuing to shoulder the financial burden of protecting their crops, after receiving conflicting information from government authorities over who is responsible for addressing the problem.

BusinessNow.mt recently reported how a farmer from Żejtun said mice had devastated this year's wheat harvest, reducing an expected yield of 15 bags of cereal to just two and damaging neighbouring crops and irrigation infrastructure.

Following that report, this newsroom contacted the Ministry for Agriculture to determine whether any support or intervention was planned. The ministry said responsibility for rodent control falls under the Health Directorate.

However, when contacted by BusinessNow.mt, the Health Directorate said responsibility lies with both the Ministry for Agriculture and farmers themselves, creating uncertainty over which authority is expected to coordinate action.

Meanwhile, the problem has not eased.

Speaking again to BusinessNow.mt, the farmer said mice continue to damage agricultural land, forcing him to take matters into his own hands.

He explained that he is now paying for rodenticides himself to try to control the infestation, adding another expense to an industry already facing rising operational costs.

"It's another cost we have to absorb ourselves," he said.

The farmer reiterated that, in previous years, rodenticides – commonly referred to by farmers as "teabags" – were distributed to help control mice populations. He maintains that this assistance is no longer available, leaving farmers to purchase the products themselves.