The President of the Government highlighted today the investment of nearly 11 million Euros in agricultural infrastructures this year to boost the sector's competitiveness, defending that success can only be achieved by strengthening partnerships between all stakeholders.
 
"We must be aware that the success of the animal husbandry sector in our Region is only possible if there is an ever greater strengthening of concertation and partnerships between production, industry and marketing, which are essential for the benefit of all stakeholders," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
At the opening of the improvement works of the Longitudinal North Rural Road on São Jorge Island, the President of the Government stressed that it is not possible to face the competitiveness, development and success of the regional agricultural and animal husbandry sector "if we believe that each one can make it by itself."
 
"Production cannot do this without establishing a partnership with industry and marketing, let alone the industry. It cannot strive and succeed unless it strengthens partnerships with production," said Vasco Cordeiro. In this regard, he added that São Jorge is a good example of these partnerships by the very nature of their processing fabric, which is mainly composed of cooperatives.
 
On the second day of the statutory visit to this island, the President of the Government also stated that the rural road opened today falls within the regional strategy to strengthen the competitiveness of the sector, an effort that has been undertaken throughout the Region.
 
"Last year, more than 40 kilometres of rural and agricultural roads were paved in the Region, an investment effort that will continue this year," stressed the government official.
 
In this context, the Government plans to invest about 11 million Euros in agricultural infrastructures throughout the Region this year, allocating 30 percent of this amount for public investment in water abstraction and storage.
 
According to Vasco Cordeiro, these 11 million Euros represent 9% more in comparison with 2018, which will allow the intervention in another 60 kilometres of roads, supply electricity to more than 40 milking parlours and to build nearly 30 kilometres of water supply networks to farms.
 
"This is a regional strategy to reinforce the conditions that will allow our farmers to work in a competitive manner, with positive effects on their income," said the government official.
 
In the first and second phases, the Longitudinal North Rural Road, stretching over 6.6 kilometres, represents a public investment amount to 900 thousand Euros that will benefit more than twenty farmers.
 
During this statutory visit to São Jorge, the Government will sign a contract work for the construction and improvement of Pau-Pique Agricultural Road in the Agricultural Planning Perimeter of Ribeira Seca Norte Pequeno, an investment over half a million Euros.
 
Also, this year, the Government intends to move forward with the improvement of Ponta/Sete Fontes road, followed the intervention in Cancelas/Farol road.