The number of young farmers has already overcome the 30 percent of the Azorean labour force, a figure much higher than that registered in Madeira and in Mainland Portugal, thus demonstrating that Azorean youngsters are increasingly interested in farming.
The revelation was made by the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry at a meeting with the professionals of the agricultural sector on Santa Maria, which also served to disseminate the information on the incentives for animal husbandry.
At the meeting, the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry underlined the importance and the need for farmers to increasingly qualify, a motive by which he presented the professional training and information plan designed for Santa Maria Island.
The plan comprises several important actions such as a technical workshop on melon growing, training of agricultural businesspeople on beef cattle farming, animal well-being, hygiene and safety at work and agricultural machinery.
The agricultural businesspeople will also have the opportunity to attend training sessions on the application of plant protection products, the initiation to information and communication technologies, animal reproduction and improvement in beef cattle farming and on the agricultural associations and cooperatives, among others.
The Government of the Azores has reinforced and increased the number of training and information sessions over the last years, in order to better prepare farmers for the new demands of this activity.