President of the Government announces strategic measures for agricultural and rural development in the Azores - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, accompanied by the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, announced today a significant package of support for the regional agricultural sector, following an audience with the President of the Azores Agricultural Federation, Jorge Rita.

"This is a path that we have set ourselves, working not only on the opportunities arising but also on the strategic policies for agricultural and rural development in the Azores, always in coordination with the Azores Agricultural Federation," said José Manuel Bolieiro.

The measures announced today include the opening of a Call for applications for investment in farms under PRORURAL+, with an overall allocation of eight million Euros, available from July 8 - this investment is aimed at green transition, digitisation and the construction of water reservoirs, with support rates of up to 75% of the eligible investment.

An application period for the conversion of milk to meat production was also announced, starting on July 8, with the aim of restructuring dairy cattle farming on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Graciosa. With this measure, the Azores will reduce the 40% deficit in beef production in Portugal.

"The package of support now announced covers the entire agricultural sector in the Azores, encompassing sectors such as livestock farming, wine production, horticulture, floriculture and many others. It intends to modernise and make our agricultural production more sustainable," said the President of the Regional Government.

In addition, the first ordinances of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan - PEPAC - will be published in the Official Journal, bringing advantages such as the increase in investment support rates to 85%, thus reducing the effort rate, and the creation of the "Small Farms" concept, which allows investments of up to 50 thousand Euros under the same support rate.

Young people wishing to establish themselves in farming, without working full-time, will now receive a 15 thousand-Euro installation premium, something that did not happen before. In turn, young people wishing to establish themselves full-time will receive a 40 thousand-Euro installation premium, regardless of the agricultural area and farm size.

It was also announced that the consumption of agricultural diesel would be liberalised from January 2025 and that there would be financial support to offset bank costs for interest and stamp duty on loans taken out by farmers in 2023, amounting to 1.5 million Euros.

Jorge Rita welcomed the fulfilment of the commitments made by the Regional Government, which go beyond the opening of applications with a "substantial change compared to the past, both in terms of restrictions and aid," making the investment effort less difficult for farmers.