The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Environment revealed today in Vila do Porto that the Regional Government aims to boost the production capacity and, subsequently, increase business deals with domestic distribution chains, through the transfer of land and the signing of cooperation agreements with Santa Maria Agricultural Associations and the Association of Goat and Sheep Farmers.

Speaking after a meeting with Santa Maria Agricultural Association and Agromariensecoop, Luís Neto Viveiros mentioned that a fattening and finishing unit will be installed in transferred land next to the airport in order to "store a significant number of cattle before the slaughtering process."

The Regional Secretary for Agriculture stressed that these animals will be slaughtered in the Region and the meat will be sold to domestic consumption chains. This will generate added value and contribute "to the consolidation of meat production on the island of Santa Maria by contributing to the visibility of meat products and promoting their commercialisation on a regular basis."

In order to achieve the goal towards an annual production of 400 tonnes of cantaloupe, the Regional Secretary revealed that the Government signed a cooperation agreement that aims to "extend production areas," through the transfer of three hectares of land that were under the manage met of the Agricultural Development Services of Santa Maria.

Luís Neto Viveiros also met today with the Director of ARCOA - Sheep and Goat Breeders Association, highlighted the partnership with the Government in the development of the "very interesting" projects with this association.

In addition to the transfer, by public tender, of a three-hectare land plot to increase the private production of lambs, the Regional Secretary announced that the Regional Government will also support in 2015 the import of breeding sheep.

The Government will also hire a technician that will support farmers "finding solutions that will maximise production" and the profitability of their farms.