The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry highlighted today on São Miguel that the commitment to improving and modernising accessibility remains a priority for the Regional Government for reducing production costs, boosting the competitiveness of farms and improving road safety.
 
"On the part of the Regional Government, we will do everything to provide farmers with better working conditions. This is a strategic goal that moves us every day, because we know that having good accessibility or access to electricity and water supply on farms makes all the difference in terms of working conditions and income," said João Ponte.
 
In this context, the government official added 11 million Euros will be invested next year in roads, water and electricity supply to farms across the Region, representing an increase of 9% compared to this year.
 
João Ponte spoke at the presentation of the project for the improvement of the Cemetery Rural Road in the village of Santa Bárbara, municipality of Ponta Delgada, an estimated investment of nearly 244 thousand Euros. The intervention covers an area of 670 metres and will be completed by 2019. 
 
The government official pointed out that there are still two distinct realities in the Region: farmers who complain there are no paved roads in the village, such as the case of Santa Bárbara, and other who claim the repair of holes on roads already paved for more than two decades ago.
 
"What the Regional Government is doing is to provide responses to all these situations, but the truth is that will never be sufficient financial funds to pave all roads at the same time," said João Ponte.
 
"Given the resources available in the Plan, we are providing the best responses to the most critical situations," added the government official.
 
Furthermore, the Secretary for Agriculture stressed that the maintenance of the roads used by farmers is not the sole responsibility of the Government as many of the access roads to farms are also under the responsibility of municipalities.
 
Nevertheless, João Ponte praised the good collaboration with several municipalities and village councils to provide the best answers to the needs of farmers.
 
The government official added that the Government will invest 2.1 million Euros next year in the improvement of various roads on the island of São Miguel, including the Peixotos Agricultural Road in the Central Zone Agricultural Planning Perimeter, Arrebentões Rural Roads in Sete Cidades and another road in Remédios da Bretanha.