The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry announced that 48 projects were submitted under the PRORURAL+ notice for investments in farms directed to the use and storage of water. They represent an overall amount of 1.3 million Euros of investment, corresponding to a public expenditure of about one million Euros.
 
João Ponte expressed his satisfaction with the adherence of Azorean farmers, who acknowledge the importance of having access to water on farms in order to improve working conditions and competitiveness.
 
"This strategic investment will reduce production costs and improve the efficiency of water resources management among farmers," said João Ponte. According to him, this opening notice falls within the policies for the prevention and mitigation of eventual effects of climate change on the regional agricultural sector.
 
Specifically, the proposed projects aim at the installation of reservoirs and artificial ponds for the storage of 30 million litres of water on farms, comprising dairy, cattle, horticultural and fruit farms.
 
The available funding for this PRORURAL+ notice was stipulated at 1.5 million Euros to reinforce the current water storage capacity of 50 million litres on farms.