The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated in Ponta Delgada that the adaptation of the national Family Farming Statute to the Region will be beneficial to Azorean farmers. Moreover, it will safeguard the specificities of the sector in the archipelago, simplify procedures for the granting of this statute, make it more attractive to cover more farmers and provide for specific support measures. 

“Those who know the regional agricultural structure, with a strong family background, will easily agree with the adaptation of this national legal scheme to the regional reality. In fact, it may contribute to the development of territories, the maintenance of the population in rural areas, the revitalisation of local productions and to the entry of more young people into the agricultural sector," said João Ponte, who spoke Monday at the Committee on Economic Affairs at the Legislative Assembly. 

The government official stressed that the Government's proposal, like others, was subject to consultation with partners, namely the Azores Agricultural Federation and other regional agricultural associations, in addition to having been put under public consultation. 

João Ponte pointed out that the legal document establishes farmers who receive aid up to 10 thousand under POSEI as one of the requirements for the granting of this recognition, so that more farmers can benefit from it. In turn, this limit is set at five thousand Euros in Mainland Portugal. 

According to him, the proposal provides for a positive differentiation of Azorean producers, recognised under this statute, through increases in the aid granted under the agricultural diesel supply system, agricultural insurance and other support measures fully funded by the Region, such as the PROAMAF, PROAGRI and I9AGRI programmes, among others. 

The Secretary for Agriculture also announced that the Government will publish an ordinance defining the procedures for requesting and granting this recognition as well as the conditions for its renewal, repeal and supervision, and the obligations of farmers.