The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stressed today the importance of the PRORURAL+ programme for the development of projects in the area of processing, marketing and development of agricultural products in the Azores. Under the current Community framework, investments amounting to 32.2 million Euros have already been approved and additional investments over six million Euros are currently under analysis; the latter are expected to be approved by the Regional Government during September.
 
“All these projects have been instrumental in leveraging our economy in the area of processing, marketing and development of agricultural products, allowing most of them to be exported from the Region, which has a major economic impact,” said João Ponte. The government official spoke on the sidelines of a visit to an innovative project for the promotion of banana production at Quinta dos Cedros, Terceira Island.
 
João Ponte restated hat the Regional Government will continue working at different levels towards the improvement of the European Commission's proposal for the rural development programme in the next financial programming period.
 
"The European Commission's proposal under discussion provides for a 15% cut in the financial envelope for the rural development programme, including PRORURAL+, which the Regional Government considers unacceptable", noted João Ponte.
 
The Secretary for Agriculture stated that more funds are needed so that “Azorean companies can continue to invest, grow and boost their turnover, thereby increasing their competitiveness and ensuring the Region's growth in this sector.”
 
Regarding the project for the promotion of banana production, João Ponte pointed out its relevance to the Region for its pioneering role and exporting potential.
 
João Ponte mentioned that this project aims to find a sustainable solution to avoid banana waste, through the production of an alcoholic beverage based on the fermentation of bananas to be designated as "Bananika."