The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry defended the improvement of the European Commission's proposal for the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which provides for 15% cuts in the Rural Development Programme and 3.9% cuts in POSEI. In this regard, he considered the current proposal unacceptable and urged Portugal, as Member State, to take up a "firm position" towards the defence of the interests and specificities of regional agriculture since the Azores are an Outermost Region.
 
"It is unacceptable because it calls into question the core values of the European project, such as economic, social and territorial cohesion. It is unacceptable because it may compromise the entire path followed by the agricultural sector in the Azores in terms of modernisation, innovation and growth of production," said João Ponte. The government official spoke in Ribeira Grande at the opening of the 17th São Miguel Holstein Frisian Breed Contest, an event organised by São Miguel Agricultural Association.
 
João Ponte also considered the maintenance of the current budget proposal unacceptable as the Azores have made a good use of Community funds and, above all, because it is necessary to continue mitigating asymmetries and compensating farmers for producing in an Outermost Region with increased costs.
 
"Taking into account the unit amount of aid, the reduction of POSEI budget after 2020 will result in increased apportionment rates for farms. This will affect the profitability of many farms, namely small farms, which are predominant in the Azores," stated the government official. In this context, he urged the European Commission to "adjust theory to reality," reminding that, some time ago, the President of the European Commission said he did not intend to reduce POSEI appropriations for Agriculture.
 
On the other hand, the Secretary considered that a possible reduction of the Rural Development Programme will have a negative impact, particularly on the investments that are still necessary for the modernisation of agriculture in the Azores, as well as on the regional slaughter network, the industry and infrastructures, putting at risk economic development and social cohesion.
 
"This proposal for the future of CAP would lead to a reduction in the profitability of farms, jeopardising agricultural activity on some islands, with serious losses for local economies and with serious consequences at social level," stressed the Secretary for Agriculture.
 
On the date when the World Milk Day is celebrated, João Ponte said it is time "to celebrate the importance of milk for the sustainability and economic development" of São Miguel Island and the Azores. In this regard, he defended that it is time to combat the enemies of milk and dairy products as well as to restate the quality of Azores milk and its health benefits.
 
In 2017, the gross revenue from milk production paid to São Miguel producers reached 115 million Euros, which adds up to revenue generated in other areas such as cooperatives and industries.
 
Despite the good results achieved, the government official emphasised "the urgency of reflecting all the growth and investment in the modernisation and improvement of milk production on the price paid to producers." According to him, it "is only fair that we do so."
 
As for climate change and the need to continue investments in the modernisation of agricultural infrastructures to reduce production costs, increase income and ensure sustainability, João Ponte announced that IROA will assess the water supply needs of farms on São Miguel Island.
 
João Ponte stated that this assessment will be carried out in collaboration with the São Miguel Agricultural Association and the Association of Municipalities of São Miguel. It aims to implement an action plan for the next decade of investments deemed necessary to ensure water supply for the entire agricultural sector.
 
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry also hopes that the visit of the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan, to the Azores later this month "may contribute to clarifying misunderstandings and, above all, potentialities and weaknesses" of agriculture in the archipelago. As he also mentioned, it will also call for "the need for the post-2020 CAP to have a very different budget, which should be for the better."