Regional Government invests in agricultural infrastructures to help farmers facing future challenges, says João Ponte
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated on the island of Graciosa that the Regional Government's investment in agricultural infrastructures throughout the archipelago aims to boost the sector and help farmers to better face future challenges.
"The investment in agricultural roads, water supply or electrification of farms falls within the Regional Government's strategy to provide better working conditions for farmers, reduce production costs and boost the competitiveness of farms," said João Ponte.
The Secretary for Agriculture spoke at the opening of the upgrading works Canada da Serra Forest Road at a ceremony chaired by the President of the Government of the Azores, Vasco Cordeiro.
On the second day of the Government's statutory visit to Graciosa, João Ponte stressed that the Government has sought, throughout the Region, to respond to the sector's needs in terms of agricultural and forest roads, water supply and electrification of farms. In this regard, he revealed that the Government plans to invest 26 million Euros in agricultural infrastructures in the current legislative term, corresponding to 14 million Euros more than in the previous one.
In turn, he stressed that farmers have also undertaken great efforts to make the best of the funds granted under PRORURAL+ so that they can improve the performance of their farms, which is very important at a time when the creation of value for dairy products in the market is facing difficulties.
"Currently, 835 projects have already been approved under PRORURAL+, representing a global investment of more than 80 million Euros, with four million Euros invested on Graciosa Island," revealed João Ponte. According to him, it is important for the agricultural sector to continue following the path of investment and progress in the transition period between Community frameworks.
The Regional Secretary also stressed that the Government has implemented new measures, coordinated with the sector and directed towards the future, such as i9AGRI and PROAGRI, as well as the Young Farmer programme and the Agricultural Activity Cessation Scheme.
“These are examples of what we are doing and are measures directed towards the future, namely for the strengthening of the agricultural sector, which is a strategic sector due to the wealth it is capable of generating and the economic development it fosters in the Region,” said João Ponte. In this regard, the "Government shows its confidence that the future of agriculture will have a future."
The improvement of Canada da Serra Forest Road represents an investment of more than 244 thousand Euros and will improve the access to 110 farms, covering an area of 67 hectares.
As part of this statutory visit, the project for the improvement of Pavão agricultural path, located in the Agrarian Planning Perimeter (POA) of Santa Cruz/Guadalupe, will be presented today. The intervention comprises an extension of 470 meters, involving an investment of 236 thousand Euros.