The difficulties “felt at a global scale” have brought instability and turmoil to the markets and, in this context, it is necessary to “be permanently attentive to the issues arising from the current context that might weaken with the solidarity and effort of all agents involved in the agricultural sector so that we may overcome every obstacle.”

These statements were made by the Regional Director for Agricultural Development, Joaquim Pires, who spoke behalf of the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry, Noé Rodrigues, at the closing session of the Agricultural Day in Praia da Vitória on Sunday night.

Despite difficulties, the Regional Director added, “we should not stop investing in the modernisation of our agriculture,” to further strengthen “the sustainability and competitiveness indicators of Azorean agriculture in order to improve the productivity of farms.”

In this context, the Regional Director assured that the Government of the Azores “will do everything to continue to support the investment of Azorean farmers, fighting for increased financial support and improved management of the available resources.”

Simultaneously, Joaquim Pires stated that “we should proceed with public investment in the structuring of our agriculture at various levels as this purpose facilitates agricultural work, reduces operating costs and creates better conditions for the organization of productions.”

With regard to the Agricultural Days, the Regional Director stressed that the Government “was attentive” to the speeches delivered as well as to the debate “because these opportunities always call for a renewed reflection on our Agriculture, in the context which we developed it, compelling us to assess the contribution we have provide towards its improvement and strengthening.”

Joaquim Pires admitted that “the dynamism and progress that characterise producers from Terceira and Azorean producers in general is deeply rooted on a permanent to learn more, to do better and to go further, with a very strong soul that has been inherited from preceding generations.”

About the framework of agriculture in the current context, the Regional Director stated “that the Commission should reconsider its stubborn initiative to dismantle the milk quota system, which has proved to be a stabiliser in a sector of vital importance, not only for us, but also for the country.”

For this reason, he added, “we do not understand the permeability that the European Commission is showing on the MERCOSUL negotiations, allowing the invasion of the European market with meat produced at costs far less demanding than the ones imposed to European producers, in addition to ostensibly neglecting the traceability conditions that are imposed on these products from outside Community space.”