The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forests stated on Faial that agricultural diversification in the Azores has experienced an "exponential growth," both in the number of producers and in the size of agricultural area, which will reduce imports in the future and, consequently, create more jobs and wealth.
 
"Over the last eight years, the number of producers has grown from 190 to 700 and the area for agricultural diversification has grown 100 hectares per year over the last six years," said João Ponte, who spoke during a visit to an investment project developed in protea growing.
 
According to the Secretary for Agriculture, the focus on horticulture, floriculture and fruit growing is important and can ensure that the Azores will be able to ensure a greater supply of the local market in the future, thus reducing imports and bringing clear advantages for the regional economy.
 
"We know that we cannot produce everything in the Azores and that there is still a long way to go, but the current figures are hopeful," said João Ponte. He added that, under PRORURAL, 13% of first-time projects were developed under agricultural diversification, while in the current Community framework, under PRORURAL +, it has increased to 30%.
 
Regarding the investment project of a young entrepreneur from Faial which he visited today, the Regional Secretary considered that it is a "good example of the use of Community funds" and it falls within the Regional Government's policies for the agricultural sector, that is, a clear investment in the area of agriculturaldiversification.
 
João Ponte also pointed out that, under PRORURAL +, 23 projects have already been registered in floriculture, representing an investment of 1.9 million Euros and a public expenditure of 1.4 million Euros.
 
"Of these 23 projects, 10 are from Faial," the government official said, adding that "there were also 10 first installations, eight of which on Faial."
 
For João Ponte, these data evidence the investment of Faial in floriculture.
 
The Regional Secretary stressed that the Azores are Europe's second largest producer of proteas, noting that, last year, the island of Faial more than doubled the production of this ornamental flower, from 70 thousand stems to about 150 thousand. In addition, the island of Terceira went from 1.3 million to two million stems, the majority of which is intended for export to the Netherlands.