The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry said that Faial farmers need to produce more milk and improve its quality.

According to Noé Rodrigues, this is one of the main goals of the "plan for the recovery of the milk sector" on Faial, which has been developed by the Board of Faial Dairy Cooperative (CALF).
 
During the meeting that was held yesterday night in the village of Cedros, the Board of CALF presented to its members the "programme guidelines" set by the cooperative for the next triennium. For the government official, who attended the meeting as a guest, this plan is intended "to increase milk production and reinforce its recovery."

The increase in the base price of standard milk by 0.5 cents per litre, which entered into force on October 1, is one of the measures already implemented by the cooperative in order to resume the historical levels of milk production on Faial, which reached 15 million litres per year.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, the Regional Secretary also stressed that CALF will boost milk production on Faial with the increase of 1.5 cents in the price of standard milk for production increases over 5%, measured every three months.

Furthermore, Noé Rodrigues also highlighted the investment that is being carried out in the finishing production line of CALF factory, particularly the investment in cheese slicing equipment, which will improve and diversify the products on the market and reduce costs.

This is a "good opportunity" to strengthen the milk sector on the island of Faial and to start developing systems to support the professional enhancement of milk producers, added the government official.