The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry announced in Horta on Thursday that the Azorean Government will develop a programme in order to “foster the improvement of milk production on the island of Pico.
The information was provided by Noé Rodrigues at the end of the meetings held, separately, with the boards of LactoPico and Agricultural Association of Pico Island on Thursday morning.
For the Regional Secretary, as the difficulties affecting LactoPico have been solved, a new question arises regarding the increase of milk production on that island since the products from that industrial unit “are being successfully marketed.”
Noé Rodrigues reminded that this situation has only been possible due to the investment in the improvement of the operation conditions of that industrial unit and the marketing of the “Mistério” cheese, which has brought improvement in sales, market expansion, being an added value to operational results of LactoPico.
With regard to the improvement of cattle production, the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stressed that this sector may only be improved through the genetic enhancement of livestock, the investment in its health status and the renewal of pastures. In this context, the Government has already approved “a programme that will turn waste lands into pastures to be developed on the island of Pico.”
“We have also signed a protocol with the knowledge entities so that we may be able specify meat production in the Azores and allow operators to develop innovative enhancement and production strategies,” added Noé Rodrigues.
According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry, the major commitment in the agricultural sector should focus on the “recognition of what we produce,” therefore it is of utmost importance to improve pastures as well as the fodder production so that we may reduce the import of raw material for animal feed.
“We estimate some turbulence in the markets in 2011 and, thus, we must be very attentive to it,” alerted Noé Rodrigues, who also defended a “join and constant effort” towards the improvement of our capacity to produce animal feed “so that we may become more autonomous.”
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry also stressed that in order to be “more efficient, we must become more autonomous and less dependent on such imports.”