GREEN JOBS FOR GREEN GOZO

On Sunday Tuesday 15th March 2009, Arnold Cassola, the Malta Green Party leader and candidate for the European Parliament elections of the 6th June accompanied one of the farmers member of the Ager Foundation and a group of German tourists on one of his farms.

Prof Arnold Cassola and myself emphasised the importance of a government strategy for the development of rural and alternative tourism niches that would also create innovative employment in this region and for which the European Union allots considerable funds. On the way down the citrus garden, the German delegation could notice the destruction going on the pristine land the construction of the new Nadur cemetery and they wondered how such a project copuld take place on thjis pristine land!

We said that Government continues to brand Gozo as an eco-island, and, unbelievably, this has not yet been substantiated by an eco-tourism plan that would highly benefit Gozo and the stakeholders within such sectors.

Rightly so, Arnold Cassola declared that Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) maintains that a sustainable ecological tourist strategy for Gozo demands clear consolidated planning rather than random ministerial declarations with no end in sight. MEPA has a legal responsibility to safeguard Gozo’s environment. Public opinion believes that this environmental watchdog is increasingly becoming complacent with monied applicants and then toughens its stand with the weaker ones.

Alternattiva Demokratika strongly believes that Gozo has an inherent basis for such innovative tourism niches. It observes the futility of government and local authorities attempts to promote Gozo as a distinct tourist destination when professional training leading to entrepreneurial initiatives in eco- and agri-tourism is nonexistent in our University and Institute of Tourism Studies. Consequently these sectors lack qualified personnel and any such investment is disabled from its inception stage.

Prof Cassola added that the Government needs to recognise the financial potential of this tourism sector for our islands’ domestic product, and its special significance to Gozo where tourism suffers seasonal downturns. Such niche tourism projects fit Gozo’s low tourist season when paradoxically it is during such winter months that nature blesses its valleys and hills in an abundance of green scenery.

Alternattiva Demokratika has for years been reiterating that Gozo could be the model for the development of niche tourism and its innovative employment opportunities.

AD's proposal three years ago for Gozo to become an eco-island was meaningful and realistic and certainly not a promotional exercise. The Party believed then and now that Gozo and its residents deserve a clean environment, rich in its traditions and offerings for the benefit of the islanders and its guests. Gozitans and environmentally-conscious individuals want decisive implementation of such tourism projects instead of repeated monotonous declarations and promises.

Govanna meets a German Green!

The Hon. Giovanna Debono Minister for Gozo met a delegation from the German Parliament on their visit to Gozo, as part of their programme during their visit to Malta on the 13th of this month.

The discussion meeting held at the Ministry for Gozo, focused on the main aims of the Eco-Gozo vision as well as on how the island of Gozo benefitted from tourism from the German market. Eco-Gozo?

Some days before, I received a call from an official from the Malta parliament, in my capacity as the founder of the Ager Foundation, in order to organize an agro-tourism tour to the delegation while in Gozo. But few days later the same person send me an SMS asking to cancel this this.

Minister Debono also delivered information about the role of the Ministry for Gozo on a regional basis in the national context. I'm sure that our Minister got all the expertise here!

Following the meeting, the delegation, which forms part of the Malta-Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group, visited Dwejra and the concrete eye-sore and the Ta’ Dbieġi Crafts Village where a mushroom farm is being proposed in an Outside development Zone area, the Archaeology Museum and the Citadel as well as the Ġgantija Temples.

The delegation’s aim for this visit, led by the group leader, Mr. Ernst-Reinhard Beck, was to discuss current issues which are of mutual interest for Malta and Germany. The group’s main interests are economy, education, environment and culture. But what are the Gozo Ministry's main interests?

I wonder.

The Ager Foundation Gozo

Careers in Agriculture

Like you probably, I learned about this meeting from the media. Like you, I was not informed or even invited since this event was organised by the Ministry for Gozo....and by now we should all know how this Ministry works....

"Yes...alone everything is possible".

Anyhow, a meeting was organised by the ministry for Gozo through the coordination of the Institute of Agriculture within the University of Malta.

Apparently the director of the Institute spoke about the opportunities available to those who would like to further their studies in this sector.

How and what, the reporting of this meeting did not say.

What I can say is that I wrote many a times to this Institute of Agriculture to help tapping young Gozitans to work in the sector of agri-tourism. The Ager Foundation is constantly seeking a number of Gozitans working in this sector to provide agro-expertiences to tourists and visitors to our island., since the demand in the past three years is greater than the supply.

So if you are truely interested in working in this sector and learn more about job opportunities in agri-tourism, visit our website www.agerfoundation.com and contact me for a meeting.

I am glad that I managed to keep the Ager Foundation away from the local medieval politics.

untapped potential in agroturism

The latest discovery by the government of the Republic of Malta is that of the Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco when he stated that "Malta has considerable untapped potential in agrotourism and rural tourism"

Isn't that great?

Don't worry Hon. de Marco, nobody in beloved Malta will ever call you a tree-hugger :)

Speaking at the EMCS forum at the Hilton last Wednesday, he said this went beyond accommodation to rural weddings, wine tours and visits to producers of delicatessen items. Click on the items to read more possibilities!

He said that the internationalisation of property needed a coherent strategy that brought together both the public and private sector. This would have to ensure that quality remained a priority.

Linking property to tourism, he said that millions travel to owner-owned property - 15 million from Malta's four main markets in Europe alone. These increased by 6.1 per cent last year over 2006. In addition, they stay longer on average - two nights over the average for all types of tourists.

Thank God for this realization. Well done de Marco. Slowly slowly we can get there. Just put the money where the.......

Agro and Eco Holidays in Gozo

Reading the Sunday newspapers today I was so pleased to read a contribution as a letter to the Sunday Independent Editor under the name of Not. J. L. Attard (Read HERE).Not sure if Attard is the one I know.

Although the first part of his letter was focused on statistical figures of unemployment written in quite a partisan way and thus bashing the PN government, the rest of his letter was positive. I am so pleased that finally another Gozitan can see a solution to create more jobs in Gozo by investing in the agri-tourism sector.


Two summers ago, an SBS Radio representative visited Gozo. She and her family participated in one of the experiences offered by the Ager Foundation. She interviewed me (in Maltese) and some of the service providers - farmers. I downloaded the sound clip from the Sydney Radio and created the video clip below and added it to the new Ager Foundation Youtube page.

Try out a day at sea on a traditional boat and discover the age-old techniques of a local fisherman.

Now that the inclement weather seems gone by, we are having requests from people who would like to experience a day at sea with a local fisherman. We had been offering these services since last summer. Again, this is a niche tourism - not for everybody - but those who like it, they can try out a day at sea on a traditional boat and discover the age-old techniques of a local fisherman. Click HERE for more information.
I also did a short clip for people to get a quick impression. Will have to add this clip to the Ager Foundation website. I also started a youtube page HERE. Hope you like it and any feedback appreciated.

Gozo and Orkney Islands

My colleague Perit Carmel Cacopardo did a very interesting blog entry this week. He called it

Island generates sustainable future

I have a feeling that one day more than 300 Gozitans will see that Gozo' sleepy pace of life, the rural scenery, natural beauty, historical assets will attract more holiday makers than the present policy makers.

Don't you agree?

Cheers

Victor

Agri turizmu f'Ghawdex

Hawn min jahseb li hemm bzonn nibnu xi rzizet (farmhouses) u postijiet ta' akkomodazzjoni iehor sabiex nibdew l-agro-turizmu f'Ghawdex.
Fl-opinjoni tieghi, min jahseb b'dan il-mod huwa zbaljat.
Nemmen li l-infrastruttura diga tezisti.

Fortunatament ghad fadal ftit bdiewa u rahhala gewwa l-irhula Ghawdxin u ma ninsewx li 48% tal-propjetajiet f'Ghawdex huma vojta. Allura hemm bzonn nibnu aktar? Ma jaghmilx sens. Li nirrangaw dawn il-postijiet qodma u nikkonvertuhom f'postijiet ta' akkomodazzjoni naqbel.

Akjar ma jghaddi z-zmien, l-istatistika turi li t-turist sar aktar jivjagga b'mod indipendenti. U dawn it-tip ta' 'independent travellers' ma jfittxux il-lukandi u l-flettijiet qishom gebubi fuq xulxin. Ifittxu dawk li tipiku Ghawdxi. U dan hu li nipprovaw noffru permezz tal-Fondazzjoni Ager.

Li hemm bzonn hu appogg lil organizzazjonijiet bhal din li mmexxi jien - li l-interess principali huwa li jinbnew niccec differenti ta' turizmu ghal matul is-sena kollha minghajr spekulazzjoni ta' aktar art.

Anke l-inkoraggiment mill-Awtoritajiet huwa mportanti. Jien per ezempju jiddispjacini li organizzazzjonijiet Ewropej jaghmlu kuntatt mieghi u jistednuni sabiex naghti tahrig f'pajjizhom dwar turizmu responsabbli. Mill-banda l-ohra.....hawn Malta hadd minn ebda Awtorita jew Ministeru (almenu s'issa) qatt ma indenja ruhu jindaga kif qed noholqu xoghol innovattiv f'dan is-settur!

Sa minn mindu waqqaft il-Fondazzjoni Ager xi sentejn ilu, investejt hafna mill-hin liberu tieghi nharreg u nhajjar familji Ghawdxin jidhlu ghal bicca xoghol bhal din. Mhux facli imma bdejna. U bdejna sew.

Halib tal-bodbod jew tal-muntun?

Hekk kif jaslu, Zeppi jistaqsihom: "Biex triduh il-kafe'? bil-halib tal-bodbod jew tal-muntun?"

U ghal mistoqsija bhal din ikollna diversi twegibiet:

"Xorta wahda ghalija"

"Nippreferi nduqhom it-tnejn jekk ma jimpurtax"

"Tal-bodbod OK."

"Ha nipprova tal-muntun. Mhux xorta?"

Imma jkun hemm min jinduna li r-rahhala taghna jghadduha fin-nejk.

Mill-bidu jindunaw li ser jghaddu gurnata relax.

Tiskanta imma fl-istess hin ma tistaghgibx.

Huma hafna dawk li jigu Ghawdex biex iwettqu wahda mill-esperjenzi li toffri l-Fondazzjon li hloqt jien: Il-Fondazzjoni Ager. Hawn numru ta' nies li tassew jinteressahom l-agro-turizmu. Wahda mill-esperjenzi l-aktar popolari hi meta jaghzlu li jqattghu gurnata ma' rahhal: Maltin, Turisti u studenti.

Jibdew il-programm billi jehdu naqra kafe tajba maghmula mic-cikwejra, hlewwa, qxur tal-laring, tacci tal-qronfol u hwawar ohra. Ikun hawn fejn ir-rahhala li jahdmu mieghi (fosthom Zeppi) jistaqsuhom x'tip ta' halib frisk iridu ma' dan il-kafe li r-rieha tieghu taqsamlek qalbek hekk kif tidhol fid-dar tar-razzett.

Ir-rahhala taghna jahilbu dak il-hin stess ftit halib tan-naghga jew tal-moghza. Ikun ghadu shun u ghidli int x'naqra kafe qed tixrob. Mal-kafe ma jonqsux ftit qriemec maghmulin id-dar stess.

Jibdew ix-xoghol fir-razzett u wara li jitimghu lill-fniek u liz-zrameg, inaddfu l-imxatar halli jitimghu wkoll lin-naghag u lill-moghoz. Marbut ghalih ikollna l-muntun u kulhadd jistaqsi 'l ghaliex. Izda bhalissa l-bodbod (jew il-wott) ikun mitluq mall-moghoz halli jkun jista' jghammar. Ma ghandniex hafna wtut. Wott wiehed bizzejjed ma' merhla moghoz. Kulhadd xortih fid-dinja ighidu. Bhalissa ghandna l-gidien. Il-hrief baqghalhom ftit. Ghandna l-abura u anke l-ghenieqa.

Sakemm il-merhla qed tiekol, inaddfu il-bitha mdaqqsa mid-demel. Jitghallmu kif id-demel jiffermenta u dwar l-uzu tieghu ghall-ucuh tar-raba'.

"X'inhi d-differenza bejn bajda-bajda u bajda-kannella?" Ftit huma dawk li jafu!

U wara li jingabar il-bajd immorru biex nahilbu.

Hawnhekk jibda l-ghors.

Imhatra min jahleb l-ahjar jekk hux l-irgiel inkella n-nisa. Hafna jahsbu li l-irgiel. Mhux dejjem il-kaz. Xi drabi it-tfal ahjar mill-kbar!

Anke dawk li ghall-ewwel ighidu "jaqq", x'hin jigu biex imissu l-bezzul donnhom jithajjru ghax ighidulek li din esperjenza ta' darba.

Wara li jingabar il-halib kollu, immorru insaffuh. Bil-qtar tat-tames, inhallu l-halib isir baqta. Anke din tat-tames, qed insibu li huma ftit wisq dawk li jafu kif isir it-tames mill-istonku tal-haruf ta' xi 10 jew 15-il jum.

Kollu taghlim dan, kemm ghat-tfal u anke ghal kbar. Jiehdu gost il-familji kollha li jigu. Anke dawk il-genituri li jigu bl-intenzjoni li ser jiehdu gost it-tfal taghhom - fl-ahhar jispiccaw jitghallmu u jiehdu gost huma wkoll.

Sakemm jghaqad il-halib ikun beda jirrumba. Forsi ma tafx xi tfisser jirrumba. Ma ntikx tort li ma tafx il-brejku, izda tinsiex li jien mill-Gharb u naf xi kelma 'l hawn u 'l hemm. Ikun sar hin l-ikel. Il-Fondazzjoni Ager hija membru tal-Moviment Slow Food. Ghalhekk it-tip ta' tisjir huwa tisjir li jsir bil-mod - fil-forn.

U l-esperjenza ma tieqafx hawn.

Issa li l-halib sar baqta, irridu naghmluh gbejniet. U allura b'idejn nodfa, irridu naqbdu l-qaleb u naghmlu l-gbejna. F'dixx s'intendi halli johrog ix-xorrox.

U mbaghad irridu ngizzu xi naghga bil-gelem. Is-suf tan-naghag ikun hemm min jigbru halli jnaddfu u jibqa' tifkira.

Mhux biss familji jaghzlu li jqattu jum b'differenza f'Ghawdex permezz ta' l-agro turizmu, izda anke ghalliema bil-klassijiet taghhom. Gieli gew studenti Universitarji tal-Home Economics u anke mid-dipartiment tal-Malti peress li waqt esperenza bhal din ikollhom ic-cans jitghallmu kliem Malti safi li illum tista' tghid li ftit li xejn ghadu jintuza. U x'hemm isbah milli titghallem il-lingwa minn fomm dak li jkun?
Illum, perezempju, gew studenti mill-iskola ta' Stella Maris (Gzira). Hadt gost li l-Kap ta' l-iskola giet ukoll flimkien ma' l-ghalliema tal-klassi. Kienu ppreparati sa snienhom. L-ghalliema anke ipproduciet workbook. Il-Kap ta' l-iskola kienet tassew intiza fis-suggett. Kienet tidher mara li ghandha passat qrib in-natura. Wriet interess liema bhalu. Skoprejt li hija Ghawdxija. Omm J'accuse - Jacques Rene' Zammit. Ghandha tibghatlu ritratt ghal fuq il-blog tieghu. Omm J'accuse kienet taf ezatt li la l-bodbod u lanqas il-muntun ma jahilbu.