The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Environment stated today that the allocation of 7.3 million Euros for investment in rural and agricultural roads was included in the draft plan for 2016, the year the Regional Government will conclude all requests for the electrification of farms in the archipelago.

"We are talking about 1.8 million Euros for the electrification of about 90 farms," said Luís Neto Viveiros. The government official spoke on the sidelines of the opening of Canada da Vista Agricultural Road in the village of Cinco Ribeiras, municipality of Angra do Heroísmo.

This process of electrification is being developed in partnership between IROA and EDA under the Rural Development Programme and regional funds. Moreover, it will improve the income of farmers as it allows the installation of refrigeration systems in farms. The industry applies a surcharge to the price paid per litre of refrigerated milk delivered to the plant.

Luís Neto Viveiros stressed that, with regard to Terceira, the 700 thousand-Euro investment will increase the electrification of farms on this island by 50 percent.

In addition to the electrification of all Azorean farms that have submitted requests for supply of electricity, the Regional Government, through IROA, is also working to improve the existing infrastructures; the global investment amounts to 200 thousand Euros.

The conclusion of Canada da Vista Agricultural Road, opened today, represented an investment of approximately 130 thousand Euros and will benefit a dozen neighbouring farms and about 40 in the vicinity, covering an agricultural area of 300 hectares.

With an extension of about 700 metres, this road network ensures improved accessibility to the farmers and, consequently, reduced costs for their activity.