Agriculture Interpretation Centre to disseminate sector that promotes Region nationwide, says Vasco Cordeiro
The President of the Government considered today that the Agriculture Interpretation Centre, a project developed by São Miguel Agricultural Association and supported by the Regional Government, will disseminate the path taken by a sector that has contributed to the promotion of the Region in the national context.
“This is not just, within the scope of this project, a physical space. What is at stake here goes beyond that, since, through it, visitors will have the opportunity to know the path followed by Azorean agriculture until today,” said Vasco Cordeiro at the presentation of the project that took place as part of the Regional Government's visit to São Miguel Island.
With this visit, held Monday and Tuesday, the Regional Government concluded the visits planned for all islands for this year, which were resumed in late June, after their suspension due to the COVID- 19 pandemic.
After congratulating the São Miguel Agricultural Association for the initiative to create this centre, the President of the Government considered that the agricultural sector has, over time, managed to foster its “modernisation and adaptation and remain at the forefront not only in the generation of wealth, but also in the promotion of the Region at national and international level."
“We are a Region that, representing only 2.3 percent of the national territory, produces more than 35 percent of the milk produced in the entire country. Additionally, it also produces 50 percent of the cheese produced at national level and about 20 percent of the meat produced in the country," said Vasco Cordeiro, who associated the creation of this centre with the promotion of regional agricultural products.
“Behind milk, cheese, butter and all other agricultural products, there is a story made of men and women who, over time, worked to thrive in their lives, but, above all, to make the sector and our Region thrive," stressed the President of the Government, for whom this project is also a way of paying tribute“ all those who made it possible for us to get here.”
With the financial support of the Regional Government, the Agriculture Interpretation Centre is a project under the responsibility of architect Luís Almeida e Sousa. It will be located within the Santana fairground, more specifically in the former premises of the restaurant operated by the São Miguel Agricultural Association.
This centre will include, among other features, a multimedia projection room and an exhibition area for old machinery used in the sector. It is expected to create between 6 to 10 jobs.