Analysing the major investment projects that are being undertaken on the island for the Agriculture sector and the local farmers’ demands were some of the goals of a series of meetings held on Tuesday by the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry with the associations representing the sector on the island.

According to Noé Rodrigues, these meetings “were intended to assess the current situation of the sector and prepare the measures that may meet the needs of local farmers."

The regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stressed, among other things, the increase of milk production that has taken place on the island over the past two years, being the result of “the investments that have been made by the Government Azores in farm infrastructures of and in industrial units, which consequently doubles milk production on the island; in addition all the farmers’ adherence the training courses and information sessions promoted by the official services, which demonstrates  everyone's interest in improving the quality of what is produced in the region,” stated the Regional Secretary.

During the meetings with the board of the Flores Agricultural Association and with the Dairy Agricultural Cooperative, Noé Rodrigues also to analysed the milk and dairy markets.

At the end of the day, the regional secretary for Agriculture, Forestry, accompanied by Regional Directorate for Community Agricultural Affairs, met with the local farmers to disseminate the governmental and Community programmes to support and improve the quality Azorean products and the subsequent increase of farmers’ income.