The Regional secretary for Agriculture and Forestry reiterated in Horta today that the position of the Azores by maintaining the milk quota system, not only in the Region but also across Europe.

Speaking on the occasion of the Regional Council of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, which held on the island of Faial, Noé Rodrigues said the Region's position regarding this issue has been defined long time ago” and “it is consensual.”

For the Regional Secretary, the milk quota system “has borne fruit,” as it is a “tool to regulate the market, thus adjusting the production capacity to the consumption capacity.”

We must continue this policy because it is a policy that “defends our small dimension and the structure of our farms,” stated the Secretary.

According to Noé Rodrigues whenever one changes or intends to change systems that have consolidated the market and in production, “we are introducing mechanisms that will cause turbulence, anxiety and instability, such as those that are occurring now.”

He also considered that at a time when market prices are “deteriorated,” it is necessary “to maintain the milk quota system or at least a regulatory scheme that allows the adjustment what we produce to what we consume.”

For that reason, the Regional Secretary said that “maintaining the milk quota system is fundamental,” or an alternative regulation to ensure “that what we produce has a guaranteed outflow at a decent price for those who produce and process.”

Concerning the meeting of the Regional Council of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Noé Rodrigues considered the meeting as an opportunity, which takes place every year, for the Government to hear the producers’ organisations and confront their decisions “with the wishes and the will of the various representatives of the agricultural sector.”

At this meeting, “we have had the opportunity to confirm that the measures adopted by the Government are measures that have had very positive impact on the regional agricultural sector,” said the Regional Secretary.

According to him, the Azores have registered a “strong growth” in all areas of production, “having significantly improved the organisational processes in the various production sectors.” Moreover, the Azores also have achieved better performances regarding the market for our products.

This is naturally a source of pride for us and it only demonstrates “that the path we have been following together with our farmers” is the right one, concluded Noé Rodrigues.