Agriculture - Malta - export, area, crops (original) (raw)

Agriculture is carried out in small fields, consisting usually of strips of soil between rocks, and is characterized to a large extent by terracing. The total area under cultivation was about 11,000 ha (27,200 acres) in 1998. Most farms are small. Wheat, barley, and grapes are the principal crops for domestic consumption, while potatoes, onions, wine, cut flowers, seeds, and fruit are the chief export crops. The total value of agricultural crops exported in 2001 was estimated at 39.6million,whileagriculturalimportsamountedtonearly39.6 million, while agricultural imports amounted to nearly 39.6million,whileagriculturalimportsamountedtonearly233.1 million that year.