The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry has assured today that the investment in water supply to farms will continue in 2018 as this type of intervention ensures better working conditions and contributes to improving the profitability of farms and farmers' income.
"The construction of reservoirs is essential and that is what we want to continue to do in the coming future, through PRORURAL+ and EU funding," said João Ponte. He spoke at the opening of the reinforcement works of the water supply system in Santo Amaro, held under the Government's statutory visit to São Jorge.
 
João Ponte stressed that, next year, the Regional Institute of Agrarian Planning (IROA) plans to make progress with investments in water supply systems on several islands. The works that will be carried out according to the budget available.
 
In his speech, he added that, in the case of São Jorge Island, the construction of another two reservoirs is expected for the second half of 2018, one in Biscoitos and another in Bardinhos, which represents an overall investment of around 100 thousand Euros.
 
"They are very important investments because water is, in fact, an essential resource for agriculture," said João Ponte.
 
Regarding the Santo Amaro water supply system, which opened today, the Regional Secretary said it was a "useful and necessary work," corresponding to an investment of 35 thousand Euros. It benefited 35 farms in an area of 150 hectares.
 
With the creation of this structure, with capacity of 250 cubic metres, the total water storage capacity in the Western Zone of the Agrarian Planning Perimeter of São Jorge increases to 500 cubic metres. This is fundamental, particularly in times of greater scarcity of water.
 
This work was an aspiration of São Jorge farmers and their associations, whose need the Regional Government has always acknowledged as necessary.
 
The minister also mentioned the ongoing works to improve water supply system in Ribeira do Meio, municipality of Calheta. The intervention includes the construction of a dam, a supply network, a reservoir and a water distribution point in the Agrarian Planning Perimeter (POA) of Santo Antão /Topo. It represents an investment of nearly 50 thousand Euros.
 
João Ponte pointed out that, in the last four years, the Government has invested 4.5 million Euros in the expansion of the water supply network to agricultural farms throughout the archipelago, of which 600 thousand Euros were invested on the island of São Jorge.