The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry defended today on the island of Faial the need to strengthen the "complicity" between the Government of the Azores and producers' organisations.

When one says that paradigms must be changed, I think we should strengthen this complicity between the Government and producers' organisations "because, together, we have done well so far and together we will continue do better," said Noé Rodrigues at the opening of the resurfacing works of Ribeira do Cabo forest road.

Mentioning the works now opened, the official stressed that "this is already a road"; now we should focus on what "has still to be done and we have a long way ahead of us to improve the access to farms."

For the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry, these investments are very important for our farmers, as "they help them to increase the productivity and sustainability of farms."

In the case of Faial, as on other islands, we have made a significant effort to improve the access to farms, Noé Rodrigues said, adding that this effort counts on the cooperation of producers' organisations and their leaders, "who indicate which roads needs improvement on a regular basis."

"We expect to have the necessary conditions in the future to continue to strengthen this complicity between the Government and producers' organisations" because this relation has demonstrated that we have been right about our priorities in this sector many times. The primary sector has responded well, despite the difficult moment, and has even increased its productivity levels, stressed the government official.

The resurfacing of Ribeira do Cabo forest road represented an investment of 100,000 Euros. This work was carried out with the purpose of substantially improving the surface of that road, which serves 55 hectares of pasture and forest as well as the only active gravel pit on that island.