Registration of Agricultural Land Leases and Emphyteusis for Farmers

Riżorsi Agrikoli Malta has introduced an application for the Registration of Agricultural Land Leases and Emphyteusis specifically intended for farmers who cultivate land on the basis of a lease or emphyteutical title granted by the landowner. This measure strengthens administrative traceability and clarity regarding the legal basis on which agricultural land is being cultivated.

Who This Application Is For 
This application is intended for farmers, not landowners. It applies where agricultural land is being cultivated under:
• a lease agreement,
• old rent (qbiela); or
• an emphyteutical grant,
issued by the owner of the agricultural land.

Farmers who cultivate land that they do not own are encouraged to register their lease or emphyteutical right through this application so that the legal basis of their use of the land is formally recorded in the Agency’s administrative system.

Registration of Lease Rights Only
This application concerns the registration of the lease or emphyteusis title only. It serves to record the contractual or emphyteutical right under which the farmer is using the land. It does not constitute registration as a farmer.
Any person who needs to register as a farmer cultivating agricultural land must do so separately with the Agricultural Directorate in accordance with the applicable cultivation registration requirements.

Relationship with Cultivation Registration
Under the applicable legal framework, all agricultural land used for farming must be registered for cultivation purposes by the farmer who is actually cultivating the land. That cultivation registration remains mandatory and separate from this lease/emphyteusis registration.
The lease and emphyteusis registration with Rizorsi Agrikoli Malta is complementary and administrative in nature. It records the farmer’s legal basis to use the land but does not replace or duplicate cultivation registration.

Important Clarifications
• This application is not required for landowners who are not cultivating the land themselves.
• It does not replace farmer registration for cultivation purposes.
• It does not create or extend legal rights beyond those already established.
• Where the owner is also the farmer cultivating the land, this application is not applicable; the farmer must instead ensure proper cultivation registration with the Agricultural Directorate.

Supporting Proper Agricultural Land Management
By registering agricultural land leases and emphyteusis titles, farmers help ensure that their cultivation activity is supported by clear administrative records. This contributes to transparency, accountability, and improved governance in the management of agricultural land.