João Ponte announces allocation of 12 million Euros to new applications under PRORURAL+
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry announced today that the Government will open in September another period for the submission of applications to investment projects under the sub-measures of the Rural Development Programme of the Azores, designated as PRORURAL+.
João Ponte spoke on the sidelines of a visit to Gorreana Tea Factory on the island of São Miguel, stressing that these sub-measures have a total budget allocation of 12 million Euros. According to him, a considerable part will be allocated to sub-measure 4.2 (support to processing, marketing and development of products), with a budget of four million Euros, to sub-measure 4.3 (improvement and development of infrastructures), with a budget of six million Euros.
PRORURAL + registers a commitment rate of 55% and execution rate over 30%. Since its implementation in 2014, this programme has already approved about five hundred investment projects in the regional agricultural sector, representing a public expense of 34.4 million Euros.
The deadline for submission of applications depends on the sub-measure, which may vary from September 29 to October 31.
Improving and developing infrastructures, setting producer clusters and organisations in the agriculture and forestry sectors, supporting pilot projects and developing new products, practices, processes and technologies are some of the sub-measures whose application period will open next month.
Applications should be made through a specific form available on the PRORURAL+ at http://proruralmais.azores.gov.pt.
João Ponte said the application that Gorreana factory intends to submit with the aim of promoting innovation and increase the tea production capacity "clearly falls within" the Regional Government's policy to modernise and increase its processing capacity, thus reinforcing the export the Region's export capacity.
This family-owned factory produces about 40 tonnes of tea annually, of which about 60% is intended for export to Mainland Portugal, Germany, Brazil and China, among other countries.