The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry informed that the application period for aid under POSEI programme begins on February 27. The amendments approved for 2020 were published today in the Official Journal.
"We are, thus, implementing a support programme that has been instrumental in compensating farmers for the extra production costs, stimulating the growth of production, encouraging the increase of quality schemes, maintaining the agricultural activity of smaller producers as well as in boosting the quality and value of agricultural productions."
According to the ordinance now published, POSEI will maintain in 2020 all aid to milk producers on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Graciosa that voluntarily reduce their cattle and their production by up to 20%, without penalties in the dairy cow and milk producer premiums.
With the aim of encouraging milk production and ensuring the viability and sustainability of industries on the islands of Pico, Faial and Flores, João Ponte stressed that the milk producer premium will be increased by two cents per litre of milk produced in excess compared with the previous year.
In order to encourage the investment in quality schemes, producers in organic production mode or in conversion will benefit from a 20% increase in the Dairy Cow Premium, the Aid to Beekeepers and the Aid to Arable Crops. In the case of Aid to Horticultural and Fruit Production and other crops, POSEI provides for an increase of 10% for producers approved under the PGI, PDO or organic production mode certification schemes.
This year, the programme will also grant aid to Beekeepers, who sell honey through an approved establishment for the extraction and/or processing of honey or have own a honey production unit.
Regarding the Aid to the Maintenance of Vineyards for the Production of Protection Designation of Origin and Geographical Indication Wines, there will be an increase of 14% to keep up with the growth registered by this sector.
"The amendments introduced to the POSEI programme have always resulted from the coordination and dialogue between the Regional Government, the Azores Agricultural Federation and producers' organisations in order to respond to the needs of the sector, with clear benefits for farmers," said João Ponte.
Besides the allocation of 70.4 million Euros from Community funds, the POSEI 2020 budget also includes an allocation of five million Euros from regional funds, a key financial envelope to further develop the agricultural sector in the Azores.