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Foundation to save Kalkara valley launched

By Marika Azzopardi

Days before a final decision on the outcome of Kalkara Valley is expected from the Planning Authority, a new foundation has been founded.

The Genista Foundation has been set up with the aim of co-ordinating a pioneering project on sustainable farming.

The project which is sited in the part of the valley being threatened by development, makes use of the number of traditional wells that collect rain water which flows heavily down the valley slope.

Chris Mizzi, the foundation’s public relations officer said, "The foundation is made up of various members. Others help in the research and in the seed banking system which aims at producing seeds to be used by other persons interested in taking up organic farming.

“One of our activities includes giving out free biological degradable bags in which people can throw away their organic waste. This in turn will be used to produce organic compost."

Apart from the direct attention being paid to the valley because of this activity linked to organic farming, much pressure is being made by the Action Committee ‘Insalvaw Wied il-Kalkara’ whose spokesperson Professor Charles Pule stated, "We have clear indications that the future of this valley will be decided on the 4 January 2002.

Apart from being one of the few areas offering clean air and open spaces in the south of Malta, he stressed the importance of organic farming and stressed that the already present problems linked to leaking drainage would be aggravated should an increase in development be allowed."