Maltese potatoes in serious decline

Malta’s humble potato, one of its most celebrated exports, is facing a crisis. In the decade between 2004 and 2014, exports fell from 7,200 tons to just 3,100 tons; a massive 56% drop. This relentless decline of potato cultivation in Malta was documented in an overview of the agricultural sector in the national 2018-2028 policy that described export levels falling “drastically” in 2015 and 2016 due to the shortage of rainfall. “Growing potatoes is a hard task and many farmers feel that it is not worth the effort, considering the high costs,” a farmer told MaltaToday. But policy review shows that very little has been done in the past years to boost the sector. Despite the potential for potato production, which can be grown almost all-year round, a considerable amount of potatoes are imported to cater for domestic and tourist consumption. More