The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Environment welcomed the approval of the Rural Development Programme proposed by the Azores to the European Commission, announcing that the Regional Government has ensured the timely preparation of all ordinances. This will allow agricultural and agro-industrial entrepreneurs to submit their applications to several measures under PRORURAL+ this month.

Speaking to journalists, Luís Neto Viveiros stated that the Government of the Azores will open, still in February, "the application period to the agro-environmental measures and those designated as compensation payments within the new scheme."

"Farmers and agro-industrial entrepreneurs may submit their investment projects in various areas of activity in the beginning of March," added the government official.

Luís Neto Viveiros stressed that the Region will receive "300 million Euros that will be invested in the measures provided in the framework for 2015-2020," highlighting the work carried out by the Government to develop this programme "with the collaboration of the Agricultural Federation and its members."

For the Regional Secretary, "the hearing of sector representatives in the preparation of PRORURAL+ improved "the efficiency and effectiveness of this indispensable tool for the agricultural sector."
"With this entrepreneurial spirit and dynamics, we will be taking a further step in the development of the agricultural sector in the Azores," stressed the Regional Secretary.