Partnerships with producers' organisations foster organic farming, says João Ponte
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated in Horta that the partnerships between the Regional Government and producers' organisations are very important and contribute to the promotion of organic farming in the archipelago.
"If increasing the number of producers and the agricultural areas for organic production is our main goal, we will only be able to achieve it successfully by working closely with producers' organisations given their proximity to producers and their technical expertise," said João Ponte. He spoke at the signing of a collaboration protocol with Trybio - Association of Organic Farming Producers and Consumers.
On the occasion, the government official stressed that this protocol aims to "enhance synergies and provide the necessary tools instruments" so that Trybio can provide better services to its members, improve their skills and attract more producers for this production mode.
"With the implementation of this partnership, we are complying with the strategic goals set out in the Strategy for the Development of Organic Agriculture and the Action Plan for the Production of Organic Products in the Autonomous Region of the Azores; both were recently approved by the Council of the Government," said João Ponte.
The Strategy and the Plan of Action were designed for a 10-year time frame. These documents have defined the following strategic goals: the expansion of organic production areas; increase of production and, consequently, the supply of agricultural and agri-food products grown based on organic farming; the dissemination of technical and scientific knowledge; the promotion of business innovation and provision of statistical information; and the fostering an reinforcement of trust and credibility of these products among consumers.
The proper implementation of the Strategic Plan for Organic Agriculture will mainly rely on the work to be carried out the follow-up committee, whose establishment will be officially published later this week. This entity will be composed of representatives of producers' organisations, the University of the Azores and the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Forestry.
The protocol signed today is primarily intended to acknowledge the value and disseminate agriculture in organic production mode as an environmental and sustainable agricultural practice. Moreover, it provides for the implementation of an experimentation field for the propagation of local and traditional seeds and vegetative material at the Agrarian Development Services of Faial located in Quinta de São Lourenço.
Recognising the importance of incentives for organic production, the government official announced the Regional Government's intention to include in the proposed amendments to POSEI an increase in the aid to fruit and horticultural production and exempt the milk production premium from apportionment.
Trybio - Association of Organic Farming Producers and Consumers is a regional non-profit association that aims to promote the organic production of plant and animal products as well as to encourage the consumption of these products.