Updated 1110
Malta’s Vegetable Production Falls Amid Changing Weather Patterns
Malta’s vegetable production fell by 38% between 2001 and 2021, with changing temperatures and rainfall patterns putting pressure on agricultural output, research has found. A study examining weather trends, agricultural production and land use over the two decades found that autumns and winters have become progressively warmer, while rainfall has declined during some important months for farming. December recorded lower rainfall, while 2020 and 2021 were particularly dry across several months. The researchers found that potatoes and cereals were among the crops most affected, while tomato production appeared more resilient, potentially because of irrigation. Fruit production, including grapes, increased during the period. The study also found that Malta’s utilised agricultural area rose between 2001 and 2016 before falling by 10% by 2020. Researchers warned that continued climate changes could increase the need for irrigation and contribute to earlier pest infestations, while improved water management could help farmers adapt.
€2.1m Mosta Reservoir Project to Increase Water Storage
Work has begun on a €2.1 million project to rebuild the Ta’ Mlit reservoir in Mosta, with the development intended to reduce flooding, increase water storage and eventually provide a new recreational area for residents. The existing reservoir will be demolished and replaced with a stronger structure, while excavation will make the facility deeper and increase its capacity to more than four million litres of water. The project is being carried out by the Department of Public Works and follows concerns over structural and level-related problems affecting the existing reservoir, particularly its roof. The new structure will feature concrete columns and roofs and will provide greater capacity for collecting and storing rainwater. The works are also intended to strengthen infrastructure in the surrounding area and help manage heavy rainfall more effectively. Once completed, the project is expected to combine flood management and water storage with the creation of additional community space.
Morning Briefing
Drug Busts Net €3.5m Haul as Eight Arrested in Malta and Gozo
Police seized more than 28 kilos of heroin and cocaine, worth an estimated €3.5 million, in two separate operations across Malta and Gozo, arresting eight people. Officers found around 20.7 kilos of suspected heroin and over eight kilos of suspected cocaine, according to a police statement. One operation centred on a Żurrieq garage, where drugs lay hidden inside false compartments carved into wooden panels and a parked van, alongside scales and packaging material. The second targeted sites in Qala and Victoria, allegedly used to store and traffic drugs. Five people were arrested in Qala on Sunday evening, one of whom tried to flee but was caught after discarding a bag of suspected cocaine, and two others were held at a Victoria residence. (The Malta Independent)
Polish Tourist Pleads Not Guilty of St Julian’s Murder
A 27-year-old Polish tourist pleaded not guilty in court on Monday over the death of a 31-year-old Moroccan man in St Julian’s on Sunday morning. Sebastian Malinowski, who works in a Dutch warehouse, was remanded in custody. Inspector Stephen Gulia detailed how police and emergency services were dispatched to a garden in St Julian’s at about 6.30am, where they found Abdellatif Oumakhlouf injured. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage pointed investigators towards a suspect who had clashed verbally and physically with the victim shortly before services were alerted. Around two hours later, the Rapid Intervention Unit tracked Malinowski down in St George’s Bay, still wearing the clothing seen on surveillance footage. He was informed of his rights and taken into custody. (Maltatoday)
LSE Shortage Leaves Families Uncertain as School Year Begins
Children who need learning support educators could miss the start of school, with parents saying they have been told there are not enough LSEs to meet demand. With the school year just around the corner, several parents are still waiting to learn whether their children would have an LSE when classes begin, leaving some preparing for the possibility that their children must stay at home. The education ministry said 125 new LSEs will join the department in the coming days, and denied recruitment had been suspended or halted. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with candidates contacted at the earliest opportunity and interviews held throughout the year, the ministry said, adding that supporting students remains its primary objective. The Union of Professional Educators last year said schools were starting the scholastic year with what it described as a “massive” shortage of LSEs, despite commitments made in two sectoral agreements. The PN accused the government of a “lack of planning”, calling it “unacceptable” to begin another school year with a shortage of LSEs. (Times of Malta)
