New funds for Azorean Farms and Dairies

The Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture will include the Azores in the planned support of the crisis reserve triggered by the European Union.

In a statement, the Agricultural Federation of the Azores welcomed the position, which recalls the meeting held with the Minister of Agriculture, on the 24th of last month, in Lisbon.

It is planned that “a transfer of about 8% of the amount allocated to Portugal, which represents about 913,000 euros, with the regional budget’s share being about 1.8 million euros”, needs the Federation.

The aid, which is around 2.7 million euros, “should be directed to support the purchase of grain maize, fodder maize, and sorghum seeds, which, like last year, helped to mitigate the over cost of compound feed for animals and also increase the region’s food self-sufficiency.”

However, the Federation stresses that there are conditions to meet other claims, such as “those resulting from the application on the continent of the pact to stabilize and reduce food prices”, from which the region was initially excluded.

“Another issue that concerns the Agricultural Federation refers to support for producer organizations, resulting from Government Council Resolution No. 81/2023, which is yet to be completed. Therefore, the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Rural Development (SRADR) must publish the operating support ordinances for all applicant organizations, regardless of the amount requested or their size “, highlighting, on another level, the organization that represents Azorean farmers.

“The current Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development has already been president of an association and the Agricultural Federation of the Azores and, therefore, has this additional responsibility to expedite the realization of program contracts as soon as possible,” emphasizes the statement.

The Agricultural Federation claims an increase in rights to the suckler cow premium to support the meat sector, “an appeal accepted and announced by Mr. Regional Secretary for Agriculture Rural Development.” It calls for a draft ordinance to be created for analysis and implementation “as soon as possible.”

“Urgency” is also requested in the response of the regional secretariat to the damages of the Óscar storm, which affected producers on the islands of São Miguel and Santa Maria in June.

The PS/Azores deputies elected to the Assembly of the Republic expressed “satisfaction with the support for Azorean farmers,” which they stress is a decision by the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Maria do Céu Antunes.

João Castro, a Socialist parliamentarian, considered that this type of support has already helped, in the past, to “mitigate the surcharge on animal feed,” thus increasing the “food self-sufficiency of the Azores.”

“Unlike the political leaders of the PSD-CDS / PP-PPM Regional Government, supported by IL and Chega, who are limited to criticizing and pushing blame on the Government of the Republic, the Agricultural Federation of the Azores has shown maturity and willingness to solve problems, with dialogue,” he said.

This news story is from Diário Insular, José Lourenço, director.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Medial Alliance)  at California State University, Fresno.