The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry, João Ponte, announced today that the payment of Community aid to farmers under POSEI and ProRural + will be anticipated, representing an overall amount of 41 million Euros that will boost the liquidity of farms.
 
"As in 2015 and 2016, the Azorean Government intends this year to anticipate the payment of Community aid," said João Ponte. The government official spoke at the opening ceremony of the Azores Agricultural Fair, which runs until Sunday at the São Miguel Exhibition Park in Santana.
 
The Secretary for Agriculture also stated that the Regional Government will request to the European Commission, through the Agriculture Council, which will be held in July, the increase of the anticipated payment of POSEI and the support measures under ProRural +, which will the overall amount of the anticipated payment to more than 9 million Euros.
 
"This is a measure we consider to be of great importance in order to boost the liquidity of Azorean farms,"  João Ponte said, noting the "huge capacity of resistance and willingness to overcome difficulties" demonstrated by Azorean farmers throughout the ages.
 
In order improve the liquidity of farmers, the government official stated that, this year, the Government has already paid more than 600 thousand Euros for support approved under the Programme to Support the Modernisation of Agriculture (PROAMAF). Moreover, he announced the opening of another application period in July for investment projects on the modernisation of farms, with an allocation over three million Euros.
 
João Ponte stated that he will soon call for the meeting of the Regional Council of Agriculture to receive input from industry partners on the Region's proposal for the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post 2020. Also, this month, he will be in Lisbon to attend the first working meeting of the group created by the Ministry of Agriculture to monitor and define the Portuguese position in this matter.
 
"We have repeatedly defended the increase of funds for direct aid to the Region, based on the constraints to which our agriculture is subject, not only in terms of climate and geographical nature but also in terms of size and distance from markets," said the government official.
 
In his speech, the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry defended that the Azores Fair is an "excellent showcase" of the sector, mobilising professionals, representative organisations and the population for an event that combines "know-how, training, the healthy competition for the best rankings."
 
Despite the challenges the agricultural sector is facing, João Ponte highlighted the path already followed in recent decades to modernise, rejuvenate and generate more added value, in conjunction and dialogue with industry associations, something that should convey confidence in the future.