More expensive fertilizers? Government to launch new support of 20 million

“ Vwe are moving forward with a further support of 20 million in the same way as we have given these 20 million. Support for farmers, because of the increase in fertilizer costs, is an increase in context costs,” the governor in Penafiel (Oporto district) told journalists today.

José Manuel Fernandes announced support at the inauguration of the 45th edition of Agrival – Feira Agrícola do Vale do Sousa, explaining after that the support will be given in the form of “single request”, avoiding a “bureaucratic process”.

“ It is given almost automatically, depending on the hectares it has, depending on the number of animals and therefore there is an algorithm that takes into account these factors, so that the machine we have installed makes an immediate support ", detailed the responsible.

The governor detailed that this was how it was possible to make the July payments, calling for the speed of the process in this new support.

In June, it had already advanced that the support of EUR 20 million announced by the Government to mitigate the increase in production costs in the sector was “insufficient”, advocating a European response to avoid market distortions.

Today, José Manuel Fernandes also said that the government is planning “a further increase in farmers’ income support”.

“ It may be around 160 million, but we are already in negotiations with the European Commission for this purpose. We have increased from 2024, by 240 million euros per year, the farmer’s income support, so-called direct payments and now we’re going to increase on top of that by the end of this year,” he said.

The person responsible said he was convinced that the negotiation with Brussels will not bring “no surprise” and will be able to proceed with the support.