Agricultural land use recognition published in Official Journal - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e do Desenvolvimento Rural

The special mechanism for the recognition of ownership, use and effective management of agricultural parcels was published today in the Official Journal.

This mechanism is exclusively intended to ensure the respective registration in the parcel identification system (SIP) for the submission of applications and allocation of support in the context of agricultural activities. This measure was announced at the end of November by the President of the Government and approved in the most recent Government Council, held on the island of Corvo.

"With the approval of this validation and recognition group by the Government Council, Azorean farmers can secure the land of their farm without proof of land ownership for the submission of applications for income loss support as well as for co-investment applications," said António Ventura, Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development.

"This was a joint effort between the Azorean Government and the Azores Agricultural Federation, which resulted in the acceptance of IFAP - Financing Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries. It will ensure that agriculture and animal husbandry remain active and dynamic in the Region, both in terms of food production and the ecosystem services they provide to local communities," said the government official.

Following the notification of the Financing Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries (IFAP) to beneficiaries with the aim of updating the information on the forms of operation of their land parcels that is either missing or unknown in the SIP application, a number of situations have been detected on all islands that cannot be overcome due to lack of documents or signatures.

These situations namely concern the existence of heirs whose whereabouts are unknown, thus making it impossible the signing of a new contract, the absence of written contracts and the constraints in the validation of signatures abroad, among others.

For António Ventura, it was "imperative and urgent" to find a solution that, within the legal provisions in force, would allow to overcome these difficulties so that the farmers in the aforementioned situations would not be prevented from applying for agricultural support.

Accordingly, from January 1, farmers in these situations may go to their respective Agrarian Development Services to request recognition of ownership, use and effective management of agricultural parcels.

The request is made at the request of farmers and are required to meet all the conditions laid down in the resolution published today in the Official Journal. It concerns the parcels of land over which they hold ownership, use and management that, for reasons beyond their control, they cannot prove by any other means.