The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry revealed on the island of Terceira Island that 21 applications have already been submitted under the measure for the conversion of dairy farms to beef production, through the allocation of 6,000 rights for the granting of suckler cow premium under POSEI. 

"We have already received applications submitted by farmers from the three islands covered by this measure, i.e., São Miguel, Terceira and Graciosa, corresponding to 15% of the total rights available to producers," said João Ponte. The government official spoke Tuesday at the presentation session of the new measures to support the restructuring of the dairy sector, an event organised by Terceira Agricultural Association at the Multi-sectoral Park that was attended by several farmers. 

The Regional Secretary also pointed out that, in addition to reducing milk production on islands where industries say there is surplus production, this conversion measure created by the Regional Government creates conditions and new opportunities for the growth of the meat sector, without the need to cease agricultural activity. 

"This and other measures defined for the restructuring of the dairy sector in the Azores have been duly coordinated with the Agricultural Federation and aim to contribute to the sustainability of a very important area for the agricultural sector and the regional economy," stressed João Ponte.
 
The reduction of cattle herds and milk production by 20% while maintaining the same level of aid under the POSEI programme, the possibility of converting dairy farms to beef production, through the allocation of suckler cow premium rights on islands such as São Miguel, Terceira and Graciosa, or the new scheme for the cessation of agricultural activity, more beneficial for those who want to cease the activity, are crucial measures to support the restructuring of the regional dairy sector. 

The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry also stressed that the main challenges for the dairy sector in the Azores are focused on the reduction of production costs to generate added value for dairy products and boost producers' income. 
 
“In the current legislative period, the Regional Government has provided responses, at various levels, to achieve these goals,” said João Ponte. In this regard, he pointed out, as example, the joint work with the Azores Agricultural Federation and other producers' organisations in the construction of various solutions for CALL (dairy centre) and CERCA (strategy centre for meat) as well as in the annual reviews of the POSEI programme, among other matters. 

The government official also stated that all the measures launched have a common purpose: strengthening the competitiveness of farms and overcoming the challenges arising in the agricultural sector due to the pandemic with confidence, unity and collective effort.