VALLETTA, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The Maltese government will be paying out 3.5 million euros to farmers who suffered damages in a fierce storm last February.
Clint Camilleri, the parliamentary secretary responsible for the agriculture sector, said on Wednesday that the government would be paying for 45 percent of the total damage caused.
Back in February, the country was hit by a storm that saw wind speeds go up to 133km/h, wreaking havoc on many farms and destroying thousands of euros in produce.
Camilleri said the compensation will cover damage to crop tunnels and greenhouses, walls, and water mills.
This is the first time the government is using national funds to compensate farmers for damages caused by weather events.
The compensation framework, he said, would stay in place in the eventuality that Malta is hit by a similar event in the future.
The assistance will be limited to registered farmers or active small and medium enterprises active in the agricultural produce sector.
