Applications for support to compensate agricultural loss caused by drought begin in August, announces João Ponte
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry announced in Ponta Delgada that the application period for financial support to compensate agricultural producers for losses caused by drought in forage maize and horticulture will begin on August 6.
"We are about to conclude an ordinance defining a series of rules so that producers may have access to this financial aid that the Regional Government will make available. We are going to open the application period on August 6, which will be followed by a period of analysis and inspection. Subsequently, the support will be allocated to producers," said João Ponte at the end of a meeting with the Board of Terra Verde - Association of Agricultural Producers of the Azores.
The Secretary for Agriculture considered that it is premature, at this stage, to mention the amount for the different crops concerned, whether with regard to horticultural products or to forage maize, as there is still no exact notion about the number of hectares affected and the extent of damages.
For João Ponte, the more or less intense downpours that have registered in recent days, though not homogeneously on all islands, are "a good sign and have contributed to the recovery of some crops."
Earlier this month, the Regional Secretary announced that the Regional Government would help farmers to reduce the effects of drought in the archipelago by supporting food imports and allocating support for the drop in the production of forage maize and horticultural products.
"This is good news for farmers, who will be able to recover some income," João Ponte said, acknowledging that there are crops that cannot be recovered at this stage and that "the Regional Government is working to minimise these losses."
João Ponte also assured that the supply of vegetables in the Azores is not at risk. According to him, what may happen in the future is the need to import more products and an increase in the price of local products.
In this context, the Regional Secretary pointed out that the Azorean Government has taken measures for the growth of the horticultural sector, both with the amendments introduced to POSEI and with a study that is being conducted to identify the main characteristics of horticultural production. They are primarily intended to reduce imports and increase the export of some products, such as sweet potatoes.