In the context of an increasingly modern regional policy which aims to promote the sustainable use of plant protection products, the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture will put into effect the Decree-Law no.173/2005 of 21 October by organising two professional training courses on the “Application of Plant Protection Products” with the purpose of providing participants with the necessary skills for the execution of these tasks, thus promoting the quality of work and the safety of agricultural products.

The two training courses are addressed at a total of 36 farmers and will be held at the Agrarian Development Service of São Miguel in São Gonçalo from April 22 to May 1. These 35 hour training programmes are accredited by the National Accreditation System of Training Entities.

In 2009, the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Forestry organised 14 courses on the “Application of Plant Protection Products,” of which five were held on São Miguel, three on Terceira, two on Faial, two on Pico and two on Flores, covering 209 participants in a total of 490 hours of training.

The dynamics of these actions provides training and knowledge updating in addition to the farmers’ motivation and practical knowledge decisively contributes to increasing their skills which, in turn, will them to carry out their activities with proficiency, thus contributing to the regional agricultural modernisation.