The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forests stated in Lagoa, São Miguel, that training is essential for the acquisition of increased and enhanced skills by farmers, announcing that 130 training courses are planned for this year; they cover approximately 2,000 trainees.
 
"With increased and enhanced skills, farmers will be better able to respond to the challenges the sector is facing, namely the improvement of competitiveness and the increase of farmers' income," said João Ponte, who spoke at the opening session of a course for the application of plant health products.
 
The Secretary for Agriculture stressed that training course for the application of plant protection products is essential to ensure the safety of those who apply the products, the safety of third parties and, above all, to safeguard quality of the goods, whether they intended for self-consumption or sale.
 
"This training course falls within a global training plan that the Regional Government is developing in the area of agriculture," João Ponte said, adding that over 220 training courses were carried out in 2016, which covered about 5,700 trainees.
 
In his speech, the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry pointed out that, due to "an exceptional and transitional scheme," it is possible to certify trainees, with initial four-hour training, so that they may successfully acquire and apply plant health products by December 31, 2019.
 
By then, the Region and certified private companies will have promoted actions to complete the second part of this training initiative.