Malta Cultural Update:

In our ethnic studies class we started our Malta-related research projects this week. I am doing my research on Maltese farming and how water shortages have affected it. I heard a number of other interesting topics from developing educational plans to an investigation into gun usage.

May of the articles I have been reading about Maltese farming refer to the results of the 2010 census which estimated that 28.2 million cubic meters of water was used for farming between September 2009 and August 2010. However, I also found that, to date, Malta does not have an agricultural policy. Instead, farmers, like many other people and corporations, use private boreholes, or wells, to extract water from the small water table.

Water usage is a big deal on Malta, which is why a number of people are now calling for metering of all water extraction. One newly formed group called the "Malta Water Association" is calling for the immediate closure of all non-agricultural boreholes. They also want all agricultural boreholes to be metered by the end of this year. I think that this shows a practical attitude towards farming, because while the group wants to reduce water extraction, they also realize that farming relies on extracted water and cannot simply be cut off from that source. The group goes on to imply that the agricultural water meters are to be used to prevent gross over usage of water and are not to hinder typical farming needs. Again, I think that this is a good attitude to have towards water usage and farming.

Another big trend in Maltese agriculture is the Maltese Organic Agriculture Movement (MOAM). The farmers and institutions that support the organic movement suggest that organic farming will reduce damage to the environment, reduce water usage, and give Malta an economic edge. This argument seems very agreeable to the current Maltese outlook. Malta is very concerned about climate change, so doing things greener makes sense. Obviously the country has limited water resources, so water conservation is attractive to any Maltese person. The last point about an economic advantage refers to being able to markup organic crops over typical crops. It makes sense that Malta would want to produce more valuable crops because they have so little land for production. A larger country like Spain might be able to produce quantity, but Malta could try to corner the quality market.

I still have a lot of research to do, but farming on Malta is already turning out to be an interesting lens into current Maltese culture.