Family Farming Status reaches record of 1,500 applications and 3,700 hectares approved, says António Ventura - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação

Between August 2020 and August 2025, the Autonomous Region of the Azores received 1,536 applications for Family Farming Status, with a significant approval rate of 97%.

The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, emphasised that these results demonstrate “strong support for this scheme in the Azorean agricultural sector,” which currently has 3,739 hectares approved throughout the archipelago.

“These results clearly show that Family Farming is now an essential pillar of agricultural sustainability in the Azores,” stated the government official. 

For António Ventura, "the consolidation of this system reinforces the Region's commitment to a sustainable agricultural model, close to communities and aligned with current climatic, economic and social challenges.

The distribution of applications shows a significant prevalence in Terceira (28%), Graciosa (22%), and São Jorge (22%), collectively accounting for 72% of the regional whole.

In terms of area covered by this system, the island of São Jorge stands out with 1,753 hectares, followed by Santa Maria (642 ha) and Graciosa (507 ha).

The data also reveal that family farming in the Azores is characterised by small and medium-sized farms, with around 60% of units covering areas of less than 10 hectares.

Another relevant indicator is work dedication: on average, family labour accounts for 109% of the estimated farm requirement, highlighting the direct involvement and resilience of Azorean farming families.

The profile of farm owners shows a significant presence of younger generations, with farmers aged up to 40 accounting for 24.5% of all applications.

The age of beneficiaries ranges from 21 to 82, with the majority falling within the 41 to 60 age group.

António Ventura also highlighted the positive impact of legislative developments: "The current legal scheme, governed by Regional Legislative Decree No. 22/2022/A, has introduced significant improvements by focusing the statute entirely on individuals."

This change has made it possible to target support and ensure that the scheme fulfils its mission of valuing those who live and work directly on the land.

The Regional Government thus reiterates Family Farming as an indispensable model of proximity for territorial cohesion, ensuring the preservation of the landscape and the strengthening of local economies on all the islands across the Region.