According to ordinances published in the Official Journal, the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry, João Ponte, has approved the payment of 381 applications. These are the first applications approved under the second phase of SAFIAGRI III, corresponding to public support amounting to 475 thousand Euros.
 
These 381 applications represent an investment of 43.3 million Euros carried out by farmers, through bank loans.
 
Established in March 2016, SAFIAGRI III is a support measure intended to compensate farmers by subsidising 30% of interest and stamp duty on loans applied to investments in farms.
 
The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Forestry, through the Regional Directorate for Agriculture, has received 769 applications under the second phase of SAFIAGRI III, of which about 50% have already been approved. They comprise loans amounting to 120 million Euros of investments in farms.
 
Of the overall number of applications submitted, about 63% are from São Miguel Island, with investments of nearly 90 million Euros, while Terceira Island represents 18% of applications, with investments of nearly 20 million Euros.
 
The islands of Faial and Pico represent about 6% each. In turn, São Jorge and Graciosa account for 4% and 2%, respectively.
 
There was only one application submitted by the island of Flores, while farmers from Corvo and Santa Maria have not submitted any application.