The Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Forestry, will grant regional funds, on an exceptional basis, to compensate for the financial losses suffered by flower producers during the period between March 13 and May 31. 

According to the ordinance published today in the Official Journal, this support covers flower producers on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Faial. It is intended to compensate for the losses resulting from the closure of markets and the restriction on the trade of flowers and other ornamental plants due to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

In view of significant economic losses and the drop in income among regional flower producers due to the impossibility of selling and exporting flowers outside the Region, the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry emphasised the need to take measures in order to offset this reality. 
 
“From the very first hour, the Regional Government has been attentive to the evolution of the situation in floriculture as well as in the other sectors that faced, in different ways, the breakdown of production, contributing to the definition of specific measures in the shortest possible time,” said João Ponte. In this context, he stressed the importance of continuing the efforts to rebuild a sector whose production is practically directed to exports, creating jobs and generating income. 

The financial support to be granted to flower producers will be calculated taking into account the number of stems/feet under production or stored, with the appropriate size and conditions to be sold in the stipulated period.