Information: Regional Government invests 177 thousand Euros in resurfacing of forest road on Terceira
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry, João Ponte, signed today the contract work for the resurfacing of Ramada Forest Road on Terceira Island, with an estimated budget of 177 thousand Euros. This work includes the resurfacing of the road in bituminous concrete and will cover an extension of just over two kilometres. The road is located in the villages of Cinco Ribeiras and San... more >>

Information: Regional Government provided effective responses to difficulties arising from drought, says João Ponte
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated in Horta that the Regional Government has undertaken several efforts to tackle the effects of an atypical drought in agriculture with a strategic sense, having provided effective responses to the difficulties created by this situation. "Needs have been identified and assessed. We have presented proposals, concrete solutions, provided quick... more >>

Information: PRORURAL + registers best implementation rate of all national operational programmes, says João Ponte
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry highlighted in Horta that the Rural Development Programme of the Azores, PRORURAL +, has the best implementation rate at national level under Portugal 2020, which comprises 15 operational programmes. João Ponte spoke at the Legislative Assembly during a discussion on the impact of drought and water management promoted by PSD, pointing out t... more >>

Information: Grape harvests on Pico registered extraordinary results this year, says João Ponte
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated that 2018 will go down in the history of grape harvesting as one of the best years ever on Pico Island, both in terms of grape quantity and quality. The situation is the result of this year's good atmospheric conditions that were highly favourable to this crop. "The harvest season is ending, and this year's results can only be considered ... more >>

Information: Agricultural production in the Azores assures high quality and food safety, says João Ponte
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated in Ponta Delgada that the Azores have stood out for high quality agricultural production and food safety, because of the commitment to the training of farmers and the supervision carried out by regional public entities. "In the Azores, the number of producers whose horticultural crops showed pesticide levels above the legal limit has been ... more >>

Information: João Ponte ensures that there is no discrimination of horticulture in support measures to minimise losses due to drought
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry denied that horticultural producers are being discriminated against in the support allocated by the Regional Government to minimise production losses due to drought. "I cannot accept the criticisms of Terra Verde Association when it accuses the Regional Government of lack of attention and lack of support for horticultural producers in comparison... more >>

Information: Training is "essential tool" for farmers, says João Ponte
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry considered that it is essential for young Azorean farmers to increasingly invest in their training so that they may have more efficient and more profitable farms, lower production costs and be better prepared to overcome the permanent challenges of sector. "One of the great challenges in agriculture concerns the growing investment in training. F... more >>

Information: Headquarters of Milk Association to showcase excellence of Azorean dairy products, says João Ponte
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated on São Miguel that the new headquarters of the Azores Milk Association and the interpretation centre of the Milk Itinerary will be a space for the promoting and disseminating the excellence of regional dairy products. "This former milk station, redeveloped in terms of its architecture, will be another important contribution to the ... more >>

Information: Regional Government opens applications for additional support to farmers affected by drought on August 6
Azorean farmers with production losses in maize, horticultural and tobacco crops due to the drought may apply for additional support from August 6 and for a 30-day period, announced the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry. According to the ordinance published today in the Official Journal, "this support measure follows the sharp and persistent decrease in rainfall that has been regist... more >>

Information: Regional Government awards 400 thousand-Euro work in Caldeira Rasa road on Flores Island
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry, João Ponte, has awarded the contract work for the paving of Caldeira Rasa-Terreiros rural road on the island of Flores to the company Tecnovia-Açores, Sociedade de Empreitadas SA, a public investment of 400 thousand Euros. The placement of bituminous concrete pavement in this road, stretching over an area of 1,800 metres, covers the v... more >>