The President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, accompanied by the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, today announced a significant package of support for the region’s agricultural sector, following an audience with the President of the Agricultural Federation of the Azores, Jorge Rita.

“This is a path we have set ourselves, of working not only on the opportunities that arise but also on the strategic policies for the development of our agriculture and the rural development of the Azores, in consultation with the Azores Agricultural Federation,” recalled José Manuel Bolieiro.

Among the measures announced today, we highlight the opening of a call for applications for investment in agricultural holdings under PRORURAL+, with eight million euros available from July 8. This investment is aimed at green transition, digitalization, and the construction of water reservoirs, with support rates of up to 75% of the eligible investment.

An application period for converting milk production to meat was also announced, starting on July 8, to restructure dairy cattle farming on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira, and Graciosa. With this measure, the Azores can help reduce Portugal’s 40% deficit in beef production.

“The set of supports now announced is transversal to all agriculture in the Azores, covering sectors such as livestock, viticulture, horticulture, floriculture and many others, and aims to modernize and make our agricultural production more sustainable,” said the President of the Government of the Azores.

In addition, the first ordinances of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan—PEPAC—will be published in the Official Journal. These advantages include increasing investment support rates to 85%, thus reducing the effort rate, and creating the concept of “Small Farms,” which allows investments of up to 50,000 euros with the same support rate.

Young people who want to start farming without working full-time will now receive an installation premium of 15,000 euros, something that didn’t happen before. Young people who want to set up full-time will receive a premium of 40,000 euros, regardless of the agricultural industry sector and the farm area.

It was also announced that agricultural diesel consumption would be liberalized as of January 2025 and that 1.5 million euros in financial support would compensate for bank interest charges and stamp duty on loans taken out by farmers in 2023.

Jorge Rita welcomed the fulfillment of the commitments made by the Government of the Azores, which goes beyond the opening of applications with the “substantial change compared to the past, both in limitations and in aid,” making the investment effort for farmers less.

From a press release

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.