The importance of water in the agricultural sector was the main theme discussed in a conference aimed for persons involved in the agricultural sector. A number of foreign and local experts, and local farmers have come together to discuss the importance of water efficient irrigation in Maltese farming.
This conference entitled ‘Water Efficient Irrigation’, is part of the National Campaign for Water Conservation, WATER – Be the Change. Manuel Sapiano, CEO of the Energy and Water Agency, in his address highlighted the important role of all water users to maintain the use of water resources at sustainable levels despite continuous increasing water demands, particularly in a changing modern world whilst mentioning the importance of adapting to an ever-changing climate. He reiterated the importance of cooperation and active involvement, particularly of farmers and farmer representative organisations in programmes and consultation processes that will directly affect their efforts and production, such as the development of Malta’s third RBMP (River Basin Management Plan).
Interesting interventions from foreign speakers, gave the participants an opportunity to get a glimpse of what is happening in neighbouring countries, with similar natural conditions, and what technologies are available to improve efficiency in water irrigation. In fact, a number of foreign experts that research water management, irrigation and food production, gave presentations on the application of efficient irrigation in fields and greenhouses amongst other topics. Adriano Battilani from the acclaimed European organisation Irrigants d’Europe presented several opportunities for collaboration for various local agricultural organisations. Francesco Montesano from the National Research Council within the Institute of Sciences of Food Production and Giole Chiare from Acqua Campus Lab introduced participants to different efficient irrigation technologies to be used in greenhouses and open fields.
On the other hand, Malcolm Borg from the Centre for Agriculture, Aquatics and Animal Sciences, within MCAST, presented results of research that was done in collaboration with the Agriculture Directorate within the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights that will eventually be used to create the way forward to more efficient water management in the country. Whilst discussing different aspects pertaining to water, that the farmers face on a daily basis, the experts addressed the questions and concerns raised by the farmers who participated in the conference.
This conference was organised as part of the National Water Conservation Campaign, which is part-financed by the European Union under the Cohesion Fund – European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020. Further information can be found on www.water.org.mt.
Prattiċi komuni fil-qasam tal-irrigazzjoni effiċjenti tal-ilma diskussi mal-bdiewa
L-importanza tal-ilma fil-qasam agrikolu kienet it-tema prinċipali ta’ konferenza mmirata għall-persuni li jaħdmu fis-settur agrikolu. Numru ta’ esperti lokali u internazzjonali, ingħaqdu ma’ bdiewa lokali sabiex tiġi diskussa l-importanza tal-irrigazzjoni effiċjenti tal-ilma fil-biedja Maltija.
Din il-konferenza, tagħmel parti mill-Kampanja Nazzjonali dwar il-Konservazzjoni tal-Ilma, L-ILMA – Ibda Minnek. Il-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Aġenzija għall-Enerġija u l-Ilma, Manuel Sapiano, fid-diskors tiegħu għamel aċċenn għall-isforzi ta’ kull min hu involut sabiex l-użu tar-riżorsi tal-ilma jibqgħu sostenibbli minkejja d-domanda dejjem tiżdied, partikolarment fid-dinja tal-lum li dejjem qed tinbidel, waqt li naraw kif nistgħu nadattaw għat-tibdil fil-klima, b’temperaturi iktar għoljin. Fl-istess waqt, sostna l-importanza tal-koperazzjoni u sehem attiv, partikolarment tal-bdiewa u għaqdiet rappreżentanti tal-bdiewa f’konsultazzjonijiet u programmi li se jkunu qed jaffetwawlhom il-ħidma tagħhom, b’mod dirett, bħal-iżviupp tat-tielet RBMP għal Malta (River Basin Management Plan).
Interventi minn diversi kelliema barranin, taw l-opportunità lill-parteċipanti sabiex jieħdu idea ta’ dak li qed isir barra mill-pajjiż u x’avvanzi u teknoloġiji qed jintużaw sabiex titejjeb l-effiċjenza fl-irrigazzjoni tal-ilma. Fil-fatt, esperti barranin li jaħdmu fir-riċerka fil-qasam tal-ilma u l-produzzjoni tal-ikel, taw numru ta’ preżentazzjonijiet dwar innovazzjoni fl-irrigazzjoni fl-għelieqi u fis-serer, fost l-oħrajn. Adriano Battilani mill-organizazzjoni rispettata Ewropea Irrigants d’Europe ippreżenta għadd ta’ opportunitajiet ta’ kollaborazzjoni li għaqdiet agrikoli lokali jistgħu jidħlu għalihom. Francesco Montesano mill-Kunsill Nazzjonali tar-Riċerka fi ħdan l-Istitut tax-Xjenzi tal-Produzzjoni tal-Ikel fl-Italja u Giole Chiare minn Acqua Campus Lab introduċew lill-partiċipanti għall-sistemi u teknoloġiji differenti ta’ irrigazzjoni li jistgħu jintużaw fis-serer u fl-għelieqi.
Min-naħa l-oħra, Malcolm Borg, miċ-Ċentru għall-Agrikoltura fi ħdan l-MCAST, ippreżenta riżultati ta’ riċerka li saret b’kollaborazzjoni mad-Direttorat għall-Agrikoltura fi ħdan il-Ministeru għall-Agrikoltura, Sajd u Drittijiet tal-Annimali, li eventwalment għandhom jintużaw sabiex itfassal it-triq ’il quddiem sabiex l-immaniġġjar tal-ilma fil-pajjiż, b’mod partikolari fil-biedja, jkun iktar effiċjenti. Esperti oħrajn, filwaqt li ddiskutew kwistjonijiet relatati mal-ilma li jaffaċċjaw il-bdiewa fil-ħidma tagħhom, indirizzaw mistoqsijiet u sfidi li ppreżentaw il-bdiewa parteċipanti fil-konferenza.
Din il-konferenza ġiet organizzata bħala parti mill-Kampanja Nazzjonali għall-Konservazzjoni tal-Ilma, li hi parzjalment iffinanzjata mill-Unjoni Ewropea, bħala parti mill-Fond ta’ Koeżjoni – Fondi Strutturali u ta’ Investiment Ewropej 2014-2020. Aktar informazzjoni tinsab fuq www.water.org.mt.
