The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stressed today that Azorean agriculture "has followed a path towards success and sustainability with the generation of fair income for the entire chain, demonstrating indicators that will allow us to face the future with confidence." According to him, they are a "clear evidence that the Region is successfully implementing the Community funds at its disposal in this area."
 
João Ponte spoke at the end of a meeting with the Santa Maria Agricultural Association and AgromarienseCoop - Cooperative of Agricultural Producers of Santa Maria that took place on the first day of the Regional Government's statutory visit to this island.
 
"Whether in the meat, horticulture, fruit-growing and viticulture sectors or in the milk production sector, which faces specific and demanding challenges, there are very positive indicators in terms of growing production, value generation and even increased income for farmers," said the government official.
 
João Ponte highlighted the work carried out and the future projects to be developed by AgromarienseCoop in an "extremely positive way." On the occasion, he pointed out the projects aimed at "agricultural diversification, the construction of the finishing and fattening centre and the operation of the cutting room; the latter will be reactivated soon."
 
The Regional Secretary emphasised the "economic and social importance of the agricultural sector on the island of Santa Maria," stressing that these results are mainly due to the "proactivity of Santa Maria farmers" and their "spirit of sacrifice."
 
For João Ponte, it is "fundamental to continue investing in the sector, whether through the Regional Government's investments or the modernisation promoted by the farmers."
 
The Secretary for Agriculture also highlighted the "good performance indicators of PRORURAL+." As for the modernisation measure, "more than 650 projects were approved, representing an overall investment of 60 million Euros that allowed the entry of 90 young farmers into the sector."
 
João Ponte reiterated the "good implementation and good application of community funds by the Region." In this context, he regretted the "statements about mismanagement and poor implementation of funds in the Region as regards the return of funds from the previous Community Support Framework, which ran from 2007 to 2013."
 
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry noted that the return of funds is the result of an audit conducted to the agroindustry support measure. It took into account the fact that the auditing department of the Directorate-General for Agriculture did not consider the method used by the Region as sufficient to determine the reasonability of costs.
 
João Ponte pointed out that this method "was provided for in Community legislation, specifically in the Member State's own Rural Development Plan, and was even accepted by the European Commission itself."
 
The Regional Secretary stressed that the Region and the Portugal have never accepted this decision but, despite this, the Court of the European Union confirmed the decision; it is up to the Region to abide by it.
 
João Ponte recalled that this type of processes is not unique in the country and assured that this return of funds will not be detrimental to this year's Agricultural Plan.
 
"It is important to continue the investment effort towards the good implementation of structural funds and to work for a new Community Support Framework with a consolidated budget that will enable us to respond to the challenges of agriculture in the Azores," said João Ponte.