Applications for tax benefits for agricultural diesel in 2025 open until November 15 - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação

The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food informs that applications for tax benefits on agricultural diesel for 2025 are open until November 15.

"From 2025, agricultural diesel will no longer be limited to a maximum consumption limit per farmer. Greater agricultural production means greater fuel consumption. Therefore, it is essential to acknowledge this effort on the part of farmers, also through unlimited consumption of agricultural diesel for agricultural production processes. We are thereby contributing to a richer Region, through agrifood production," emphasised António Ventura, the Regional Secretary.

This decision had already been agreed upon and announced by the President of the Regional Government and the President of the Azores Agricultural Federation, which has now come to fruition.

"The success of our ability to produce agrifood for human and animal consumption is evident. Our forage maize production area has reached a new record quantity. In 2024, 14,300 hectares of maize were sown, demonstrating a strong growth in our availability of animal feed produced in the Region," noted António Ventura.

He continued: "Our fruit and vegetable production increased by more than 10% in 2024 and we improved the plant biodiversity of our pastures by more than 1,000 hectares. Our qualified agricultural products have grown, especially the production of PDO honey and PGI meat. Agricultural production exported from the Region in terms of foodstuffs in 2023 amounted to more than 458 million Euros; the highest figure in the last seven years."

These figures, he emphasised, "confirm increased regional food self-sufficiency in terms of quantity and quality." In this regard, the Regional Government must ensure that the factors involved in this agricultural production process do not "straitjacket" the prospect of continued agrifood growth.