The President of the Azores Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, has reaffirmed that the regional administration strongly challenged Lisbon over the exclusion of Azorean farmers from national support measures designed to offset rising fertilizer costs, insisting that assistance labeled as “national” must apply to the entire country, including the autonomous regions.

Speaking at the opening of the Feira Agrícola Açores, held at Vinha Brava on Terceira Island, Bolieiro said the Regional Government had expressed its concerns “with the full force of its words,” arguing that it would be incomprehensible for the Azores and Madeira to be left out of measures intended to support Portuguese agriculture.

“If the support is national, then it must apply to the whole nation,” he stated, emphasizing that the Azores had demanded equal treatment for their agricultural sector.

According to Bolieiro, the Regional Government has since received assurances from Portugal’s central government that the measure will be revised to ensure that support is truly national in scope.

The issue emerged after a Council of Ministers resolution approved aid intended to help farmers cope with increased fertilizer costs but initially excluded producers in the autonomous regions. Last week, Jorge Rita, president of the Azorean Agricultural Federation, revealed that the Portuguese Government had committed to correcting the situation following a meeting with Agriculture and Sea Minister José Manuel Fernandes during the National Agriculture Fair in Santarém.

“We Are Not Asking—We Are Demanding What Is Ours”

During the event, Jorge Rita delivered a forceful defense of the Azorean agricultural sector, stressing that farmers in the islands are not seeking special treatment but equal recognition.

“The Azores give more Portugal to Portugal and more Europe to Europe,” he declared. “We are not asking with our hands outstretched. We are demanding what we are entitled to, because we are also Portugal.”

Rita warned that rising production costs, fueled by ongoing international conflicts and economic uncertainty, continue to place enormous pressure on farmers. He also criticized what he described as overly centralized decision-making within European institutions, arguing that legislation is too often developed without sufficient understanding of regional realities.

The federation president urged political leaders to defend the autonomy of the outermost regions within future European funding frameworks, particularly concerning the POSEI program, which provides direct support to agricultural production in the Azores.

The program currently delivers approximately €77 million annually to the region. While Rita expressed confidence that the funding itself would likely remain intact, he voiced concern that future reforms could reduce the Azores’ autonomy in managing and distributing those resources according to local priorities.

Highest Agricultural Value in Three Decades

Bolieiro also used the occasion to defend public support for agriculture, rejecting criticism that subsidies create an artificial economy.

Instead, he argued that public assistance helps sustain what he called the “real economy,” ensuring fair prices for consumers while helping producers absorb the increasing costs of inputs and production.

The Regional Government leader highlighted that the Gross Value Added (GVA) generated by agriculture and agri-food industries in the Azores reached €354 million in 2024, the highest figure recorded in the past thirty years.

He further emphasized the government’s commitment to providing stability and predictability in agricultural support programs. Several funding initiatives are currently open or scheduled to open shortly, including aid for the purchase of corn and sorghum seed, which will receive a 30 percent increase in support due to the severe weather conditions experienced in 2025.

Applications have also opened for programs assisting dairy farms transitioning to beef production on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira, and Graciosa.

An Aging Agricultural Sector

While acknowledging recent achievements, agricultural leaders also pointed to significant long-term challenges.

José António Azevedo, president of the Terceira Island Agricultural Association, warned that food security cannot be taken for granted and highlighted the aging profile of the farming population.

According to Azevedo, the average age of farmers in the Azores is currently 54, compared to 64 nationally. While support for young farmers entering the sector remains essential, he argued that ensuring stable incomes and improving perceptions of agricultural careers are equally important.

“It is necessary to remove the stigma that agricultural producers are condemned to work sixteen hours a day and live permanently in hardship,” he said.

His remarks reflected a broader concern shared across the agricultural sector: attracting a new generation of farmers will require not only investment incentives but also improved quality of life, economic sustainability, and public recognition of agriculture’s strategic importance.

As the Azores continue to advocate for equal treatment within national policies and greater flexibility within European programs, agricultural leaders remain united in defending a sector that remains central to the islands’ economy, landscape, and identity.

Translated and adapted from a story in Diário Insular-José Lourenço-director-Photos from Governo dos Açores