The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry announced today that the Regional Council of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (CRAFDR) will include representatives of organic agriculture and local development associations, among others, in order to add diversity to this advisory body.
 
"The composition of this advisory body should be redefined in order to assign more powers towards a more direct representation of sectors and entities that are increasingly relevant to agriculture and rural development," João Ponte said, adding that the document will be "approved soon by the Council of the Government.
 
According to João Ponte, the evolution of the agricultural and forestry sector in the Region "requires the adoption and constant improvement of mechanisms for permanent interaction and dialogue between various social partners."
 
After the approval of the legal document, the CRAFDR will include a representative of each local development associations in the Azores, namely ARDE - Regional Association for Development, GRATER - Regional Association Development, ADELIAÇOR - Association for the Local Development of the Azores Islands and ASDEPR - Association for Rural Development and Promotion.
 
This advisory body will also include a representative of the Association of Municipalities of the Autonomous Region of the Azores and another representative of the National Association of Parishes of Portugal (ANAFRE).
 
Currently, CRAFDR is composed of policy makers, management leaders and representatives of non-governmental organisations in the sector. This body aims to contribute to the definition of general guidelines for agriculture, industry, related activities, rural development and forests.
 
CRAFDR meets once a year and whenever is convened by its president on his own initiative or at the request of at least one third of its members.