The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry highlighted four key actions of the 40 listed in the proposed Strategic Plan for Beekeeping in the Azores to be implemented in the next decade with the aim of fostering the sustainable growth of an important sector for agricultural development with an excellent health status in the Region.
 
João Ponte spoke Tuesday at the public presentation of the document prepared by a working group. On the occasion, he assured that, once the Plan is approved, the revision of the regional legislative decree regulating the beekeeping activity will be carried out so that the sector continues to increase its production capacity and adjust it to the constraints of each island.
 
The Regional Secretary also stated that the changes introduced to POSEI 2020 also include the creation of establishment of aid to improve the extraction and marketing of honey by licensed cooperatives or honey production units
 
In his speech, the government official also announced that the exchange of knowledge among beekeepers will be promoted with the organisation of a Regional Beekeeping Forum and Regional Honey Fair every two years. The first edition will be held in São Miguel in 2020.
 
João Ponte stated that the necessary financial means will be allocated to rehabilitate and, in some cases, to reactivate the apiaries of the Agrarian Development Services as well as to repopulate the population of bees. It intends to encourage the multiplication and acquisition of queen bees with the purpose of enhancing genetic heritage in the Region.
 
As for the improvement of beekeepers' income, João Ponte stressed that this goal will be carried out by strengthening organisations and increasing the incentives to be granted to producers belonging to beekeeping associations.
 
"This Plan proposal is a starting point for a path that should involve and motivate beekeepers, their organisations and the technicians of the Regional Secretariat of Agriculture and Forestry, so that beekeeping may grow in a sustainable manner," said João Ponte. On the occasion, he called all agents in the agricultural sector to provide their contributions to this document.
 
After São Miguel, the Strategic Plan for Beekeeping in the Azores will be presented on other islands. It will be presented on the island of Terceira next Friday.
 
João Ponte emphasised that this document is a result of the Regional Government's vision regarding the importance of beekeeping for the whole agricultural sector, namely the contribution of bees as natural pollinators of agricultural crops and the preservation of biodiversity.