The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry announced in Vila do Porto several changes that will be applied to the Support Program for Agricultural and Forest Modernisation (PROAMAF) in order to better serve farmers. The respective ordinance is expected to enter into force in May.
 
"The new change we are introducing in PROAMAF meets the needs of the sector and also contributes to improving the performance and working conditions of farmers," said João Ponte. He spoke on the sidelines of a meeting with the Board of Santa Maria Agricultural Association.
 
One of the most significant changes allows farmers to submit two applications a year, while the current ordinance allows only one annual application.
 
"About a year ago, the Government made profound changes in PROAMAF. After a year, it understands that new changes are needed to better serve farmers," stressed João Ponte. In this context, the government official added that the proposed ordinance extends the equipment eligible for reimbursement, namely electric generators and concrete platforms to place milking machines.
 
PROAMAF is designed to allocate incentives to farmers who wish to invest in equipment, innovation and in electricity and water supply for their farms, improving working and production conditions.
 
The Secretary for Agriculture stated that this proposed ordinance will now be submitted to the European Commission for assessment under Community rules. In this regard, he considered that the amount amounts paid through this programme will not be covered by the so-called "de minimis" rule, estimating that the changes in PROAMAF may be in force by May.
 
In 2017, about 1 million Euros were paid to 1,269 applications.
 
Since June last year, eligible farmers and forest producers were required to have a gross income of, at least, 5,000 Euros from agricultural activity in the calendar year prior the submission of the application. With the new changes, the minimum gross income is now set at 2,500 Euros.
 
Instead of support, farmers will now apply for an incentive in order to avoid the "de minimis rule," which prevents producers from receiving state aid over 15 thousand Euros for three consecutive years.
 
The need to continue investing in water supply to farms on an island facing increase difficulties at this level was one the issues addressed at today's meeting with the Board of Santa Maria Agricultural Association.
 
In this context, João Ponte stated that the Regional Government, through the Regional Institute of Agrarian Planning - IROA, will invest 1.2 million Euros this year in water supply to the farms in the archipelago. The sum of 118 thousand Euros will be invested on Santa Maria, namely in the expansion of the water network in Facho road in the village of Almagreira, among other planned interventions.