Azorean Government has already paid 700 thousand Euros to 300 farmers hit by 2018 drought
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry, João Ponte, announced on Terceira that the Government has already paid 700 thousand Euros to 300 farmers hit by the 2018 drought, which has caused losses in maize, horticultural, sorghum and tobacco crops.
"This week, we began the first payments to compensate farmers who suffered losses in their production due to the drought that hit the Azores, thereby fulfilling a commitment made by the Regional Government," said João Ponte.
According to him, the 1,400 applications submitted correspond to an overall support amounting to 3 million Euros; the remaining payments will be made in coming weeks.
João Ponte pointed out that the drought had a strong impact on horticulture, but it was particularly hard on the production of forage maize, affecting 50% of the 12,000 hectares of forage maize grown in 2018.
"About 70% of the forage maize area, out of the 6,000 hectares eligible for support, suffered a production loss of between 50% and 75%," said João Ponte. In this regard, he defended that these figures fully justify the financial supported granted by the Regional Government as well as the aid to the purchasing of cattle feed.
For Joao Ponte, the criticisms that have been made against the Azorean Government regarding the aid to the purchasing of animal feed are undeserved.
"Those who suffered losses in the production of fodder maize recognise and value the reach and added value resulting from the support granted by the Regional Government, considering the importance of that food for the management of their farms," said João Ponte.