António Ventura recalls importance of maize for Azorean agricultural sector
Ponta Delgada
Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, is marking International Maize Day today by highlighting the importance of this crop in the sustainability and competitiveness of the Azorean agricultural sector.
"In the Azores, fodder maize plays a strategic role as the main source of silage - essential food for the cattle diet, especially in the dairy sector, which continues to be one of the pillars of the regional agricultural economy. Growing maize for silage is fundamental to guaranteeing the animal food self-sufficiency, especially during periods when pasture is scarce," he stressed.
In the last four years, the area of maize for silage in the Autonomous Region of the Azores has increased by about 2,000 hectares, reflecting the right public policies and a strategic commitment to strengthening farms' productive capacity.
This growth comes as a result of specific measures, such as support for maize seed, the end of cuts in Community support and the elimination of apportionments, as proposed by the Azores Agricultural Federation and implemented by the Regional Government. This investment has borne fruit and will continue to deserve our commitment," stated the Regional Secretary.
Despite the lesser importance of grain maize production in today's agriculture, it retains a symbolic and historical value, associated with ancient subsistence systems and cultural traditions that persist today in several parishes, namely through the preservation of traditional seeds and ethnographic recognition.
On this day, the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food reiterates its commitment to Azorean farmers, promoting a modern, resilient and sustainable agricultural sector, where maize - especially as fodder - continues to be a central element of food self-sufficiency and the Azores' productive identity.
