The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry announced in Velas that the Government of the Azores will increase the investment in the modernisation of agricultural infrastructures in 2018 in order to continue creating better working conditions for farmers and ensuring the sector's sustainability.
 
"In the next plan, there is a very important leap in terms of investment. We will go from an investment of three million Euros in 2017 to an investment of 6.6 million Euros, that is, an increase over 100% in terms of regional budget allocation," said João Ponte at the presentation of the project to improve the Longitudinal North Rural Road under the Government's statutory visit to that island.
 
The Minister of Agriculture stressed that public investments in roads, water supply and electrification of farms on all islands are "very important" as they aim to modernise and prepare the sector for future challenges.
 
João Ponte pointed out, for example, that the Regional Government has invested € 47 million in infrastructures over the last four years. The amount demonstrates "the Government's commitment and will in providing the agricultural sector with better conditions."
 
"Regarding accessibilities, the Government has invested 42 million Euros (in the last four years), of which 3.3 million were invested on the island of São Jorge. It is this work that we must continue in the future," the Regional Secretary said, stressing the importance of water availability, electricity and roads in good conditions for the profitability of farms.
 
In addition to the revenue component, João Ponte considered that, nowadays, it is necessary to take into account the expenditure component in farms for a positive result. This has to do with modernisation investments, both those made by farmers under PRORURAL + and those by the Regional Government in terms of public works.
 
Concerning the second phase of the improvement work of the Longitudinal North Rural Road on São Jorge, João Ponte assured that it will move forward in the first half of 2018, representing an investment of 355 thousand Euros.
 
The contract work for the first phase, an investment of 411 thousand Euros, was carried out in the end of 2015. It included with paving works and improvements in the drainage network covering an area of 3,300 meters, which corresponds to half the road. The intervention improved accessibility to more than two dozen farms in an area of 195 hectares of pasture fields.
 
João Ponte also added that the Government will move forward with the intervention in Pau Pique agricultural road on São Jorge in the first half of 2018.