The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment announced that the Government of the Azores will launch this week a contract work for the construction of support infrastructures to agriculture on the islands of São Miguel and Graciosa and start two works on Terceira. The government official spoke today at the opening of the water supply system to the farms located in Fonte das Ovelhas, municipality of Praia da Vitória.

Luís Neto Viveiros added that "the construction of another two important water supply infrastructures" will begin very soon on Terceira, "as in accordance with the priorities set in the Economic Revitalisation Plan for Terceira Island (PREIT)." The works cover the water supply systems in the areas of Moinhos - Agualva and Pico da Bagacina, a global investment of about 330 thousand Euros.

This year, the Government, through IROA SA, will launch the contract works for the acquisition of borehole equipment in Cabeço do Cume and the water supply system in Canada da Santana, located in the Agricultural Perimeter (POA) of Paul Milk Basin, an investment of nearly 300 thousand Euros.

"The contract works planned for 2015 will result in an increase  of 2,640 m3 in storage capacity as well as in the expansion of the water supply system, with 20 kilometres of water pipes and 250 branches," said the government official with regard to the aforementioned investments.

As for the interventions planned for São Miguel Island in the Regional Public Works Charter, Luís Neto Viveiros announced that the Government will launch this week the public tenders for the water supply systems in PPA and Fornos, municipality of Vila Franca do Campo," and "Grota da Figueira road in Ponta Delgada."

With regard to agricultural roads, IROA will also launch this week a public tender for the improvement of João do Nateiro Road, located in the agricultural perimeter (POA) of São Miguel central area, and Mina Road, located in the agricultural perimeter of Ribeira Grande. Moreover, the Government will launch a public tender for the redevelopment of the agricultural road known as Canada Jorge Nunes on Graciosa Island, an investment over 400 thousand Euros.

The Government opened today the works for the construction of a new reservoir, with capacity for 600 m3, and the water supply system to farms, with an extension of 7,000 metres and 102 branches, in the Agricultural Perimeter of Serra do Cume - Agualva. The works will benefit 100 farms.

"This contract work was awarded to a local company and represented an global investment over half million Euros. These interventions will boost the competitiveness of farms and increase farmers' income by further improving management conditions," said Neto Viveiros.