The Government is preparing measures to reduce the cost of diesel used in agriculture, to alleviate farmers' burdens and to curb the increase in prices for agricultural products, the Minister for Economic Affairs and Territorial Cohesion said today.
© Lusa
07/09/2026
by
Lusa
O Government is preparing measures to reduce the cost of diesel used in agriculture, to alleviate farmers' burdens and to curb the rise in prices for agricultural products, the Minister for Economic Affairs and Territorial Cohesion said today.
“Very soon the government will take steps to protect diesel oil from farmers by subsidizing the cost of diesel for agriculture,” said Manuel Castro Almeida, in statements to journalists on the margins of the Honor Commitment ceremony of the 21 new inspectors of the Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE), which took place today at the National Library of Portugal in Lisbon.
The Minister considered the increase in the cost of diesel in agriculture to be “particularly worrying”, stressing that farmers have no room to reduce this consumption, as fuel is needed for the operation of tractors and agricultural machinery.
According to Castro Almeida, the increase in diesel costs is reflected in the prices of agricultural products in the supermarket and, consequently, the cost of living of consumers.
The governor also highlighted a “double effect” on families, in particular those with the greatest shortages, which simultaneously face rising fuel costs and rising prices for agricultural products.
“ Special protection for agricultural diesel has this double advantage,” he said.
Asked by Lusa about the adoption of new measures beyond the agricultural sector, the minister said that, “for the time being”, the government is focused on this measure, due to its impact on farmers’ costs and later on on prices.
“ It will ease the price pressure on agricultural products”, he said.
On Friday, the estimate of the Automobile Club de Portugal (ACP) predicted that the price per litre of diesel would increase 15 cents and that of gasoline 12 this week.
On the same day, the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, at the end of the Council of Ministers, announced the strengthening of the discount on the ISP in about three cents in petrol and diesel.
The Prime Minister also indicated that the fuel tax discount already amounts to “about EUR 700 million” in 2026 and admitted new measures if prices remain at the level of the last four weeks.
“The country is making a very significant effort, which needs to be monitored, and if there is a constant oscillation, as there has been over the last four weeks, if it remains, the government is obviously available to deal with this evolution with the adoption of measures that seem to us to be most appropriate,” said Luís Montenegro in Nelas, Viseu, on Friday.