Registration of Agricultural Land Ownership with Riżorsi Agrikoli Malta

Riżorsi Agrikoli Malta has introduced an optional Application for Registration of Ownership of Agricultural Land, designed to give landowners the opportunity to have their ownership formally recorded in the Agency’s records. This new facility complements the existing framework for agricultural land management, providing clarity and peace of mind to landowners.

Farmer Registration vs. Ownership Registration
Under the current legal framework, all agricultural land must be registered with the Agricultural Directorate for cultivation purposes. This registration is done by the farmer or cultivator who is actively working the land. Its primary purpose is to ensure that agricultural land is properly managed and not left abandoned. The cultivation registration records the farmer’s details, the land being cultivated, and the type of agricultural activity carried out.
Ownership registration with Riżorsi Agrikoli Malta, on the other hand, is administrative in nature and is optional. It allows landowners to formally record their ownership of the land, even in cases where a farmer is already registered as the cultivator. This registration provides traceability and assurance that the land remains under the owner’s name in official records.

Important Clarification for Owner who are Farmers themselves
If the owner of the land is also the farmer cultivating it, ownership registration with Riżorsi Agrikoli Malta is not required. Instead, such owners must ensure that the land is registered with the Agricultural Directorate as a farmer who is actively cultivating the land. In this case, the cultivation registration automatically reflects both ownership and farming responsibility.

Key Points About Ownership Registration
• Ownership registration is separate and distinct from cultivation registration.
• It does not replace or override the farmer’s registration with the Agricultural Directorate.
• It does not confer cultivation or operational rights to the owner.
• Where a farmer who is not the owner is already registered as the cultivator, submitting this ownership registration form is optional.
• This process ensures transparency and formally acknowledges the legal interest of the landowner.

This initiative by Riżorsi Agrikoli Malta strengthens agricultural land governance by separating ownership from cultivation responsibilities, while promoting proper management and active use of agricultural land across Malta.