The Regional Director for Rural Development stated on Terceira Island that the growth of floriculture in the Azores stems from the great dedication and professionalism of producers and their organisations. In this sector, the export of proteas already represents an annual turnover of more than one million Euros.
 
"In the last four years, regional floriculture registered an increase of 10% in the area of production and 15% in the number of producers," Valter Braga said, adding that two million protea stems were exported last year to the Netherlands, among other countries.
 
The Regional Directors for Rural Development, Valter Braga, and Agriculture, José Élio Ventura, visited today a thriving farm dedicated to the production of proteas in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo.
 
Valter Braga pointed out that floriculture has been a very dynamic and attractive sector that has contributed to employment creation and wealth generation in the Azores; for this reason, the Regional Government must continue following and leveraging its development.
 
The Regional Director also recalled that the amendments proposed to POSEI 2019 by the Regional Government and approved by the European Commission provided for the creation of new aid to the packaging of proteas. The respective ordinance defining the granting and monitoring of this aid was published today in Official Journal.
 
"This specific aid to the packaging of proteas allocates five cents per stem, being paid in accordance with the quantity of stems sold with a size equal to or greater than 40 centimetres. It stems from the need to support economic operators in exporting this flower species grown in the Azores against other protea producing countries," said Valter Braga.
 
Under this ordinance, producers' organisations dedicated to the marketing of agricultural or processed products on the EU market and third countries may benefit from this aid. It also comprises, on an exceptional basis, proteas producers who sell their production directly from islands without recognised producers' organisations.
 
Valter Braga also pointed out that 23 modernisation projects have already been approved under PRORURAL+ programme in the area of floriculture. They represent an investment of 1.4 million Euros and the entry of nine young farmers into this sector.