The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated that the Regional Government is "absolutely committed" to improving farmers' income, noting that the financial support allocated to producers' organisations is one way of contributing to this goal.
 
"This annual aid granted under a Resolution of the Council of the Government will reach 3.7 million Euros this year," said João Ponte.
 
According to him, it intends to "reinforce and even provide a new impetus to the activities carried out by agricultural associations and cooperatives as well as by producers' organisations in the archipelago."
 
"This is also a way of improving to the performance of the agricultural sector," said the government official.
 
João Ponte pointed out that the Regional Government's action is aimed at the modernisation of agricultural infrastructures, namely roads, water supply and electrification of farms. Moreover, it is also aimed at strengthening organisations representing the sector, providing them with the means to help farmers managing their farms, namely in terms of efficiency and cost reduction, and contributing to the increase of farmers' income.
 
Granted through programme-contracts, this financial aid is directed to the implementation of actions and projects with the purpose of supporting the technical and economic management of farms, improving farmers' working conditions and promoting food safety, animal health and public health.
 
According to João Ponte, 38 organisations linked to the agricultural sector were supported last year, amounting to 3.6 million Euros.
 
This financial allocation has been of great relevance both for the constant improvement of the sector's performance and for the daily activities of the entities supported by helping them to efficiently respond to the needs of Azorean farmers.