The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated today that the Regional Government will invest six million Euros in agricultural infrastructures on the island of Faial in this legislative period, leveraging the development of the sector with very positive impacts on the economy.
 
“The investments we are making in agricultural infrastructures on the island of Faial only make sense due to their effect on the economy and on farmers' lives. For example, the construction of a new slaughterhouse, an investment of 4.8 million Euros, contributed to an increase of 90% in the number of slaughtered animals and an increase of 25% in exports in the last six months, compared to the previous legislative period," said João Ponte. In this way, it was possible to generate wealth, keep jobs, reduce the number of live animals exported by 40% and boost economic development on the island of Faial.
 
The government official spoke at the ceremony, chaired by the President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro, to mark the opening of the Juncal road. The event also included the signing of the works contract for the construction of the water supply system in Fontaínhas, with capacity for 250 cubic metres, and the presentation of the project for the improvement of Carrasca rural road. These investments amounting to 460 thousand Euros will benefit 120 farmers, covering an area over 523 hectares.

These are relevant public investments, which greatly contribute to improving the efficiency of farms and are part of the regional strategy for the development of the sector to better face future challenges.

On the first day of the Regional Government's visit to Faial Island, the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry also stressed that investments in roads, water supply and electrification of farms have contributed to achieving strategic goals, such as reducing production costs, improving farmers' working conditions and rendering farms more competitive.

Farmers have also been instrumental in this goal towards the permanent modernisation of the agricultural sector, João Ponte noted, revealing that, among the 860 investment projects already approved under PRORURAL +, a global investment of 85 million Euros, 54 projects were aimed at the modernisation of farms on the island of Faial.