‘Two days of bad weather and look what happened’:  Maltese farmer NGO flags empty shelves

Għaqda Bdiewa Attivi, an NGO representing farmers, flagged the risks of Malta’s heavy reliance on imported food, warning that even last weekend’s storm had consequences.

The NGO spoke out after photos showing empty shelves in the fruit and vegetable sections of two major Maltese supermarkets were published online.

It said the storm disrupted Malta’s trade supply, shining a light on how exposed the country is to elements completely out of its control.

“It’s important to realise the repercussions of a country which relies excessively on imported food. Just a bit of bad weather for a day or two and these are the consequences,” they said. 

Malta imports an estimated 75-80 per cent of its food products. While Għaqda Bdiewa Attivi said it is unlikely that Malta can ever be fully self-sufficient, it has long argued that the country should rely more on local produce to mitigate the impact of unpredictable shocks, such as those experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Borg has long advocated for Malta to be more self-reliant.

He said that while Malta is unlikely to ever be self-sufficient, it should rely more on local produce to shocks, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Main photo: Are You Being Served ? (Malta & Gozo) Original, Inset photo: Għaqda Bdiewa Attivi President Malcolm Borg (Photo: LinkedIn)