«No one is left out». This is how Maria do Céu Albuquerque, Minister of Agriculture, reacts to recent complaints from small algarvian farmers, on the lack of support due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The official revealed that the Government is waiting "for the European Commission to authorize any support for products and producers that are suffering more from this crisis."
In statements to the Sul Informação, on the margin of a awareness-raising action aimed at migrants in which she participated this Wednesday, April 22, in Estiramantens (Tavira), the minister, faced with these complaints, explained how, «at this moment, the only instrument available in non-repayable terms is the operational program of fruit and vegetables, which stems from the operational programmes, which are an imposition of the European Commission'
This was one of the complaints of small farmers in the Algarve, subscribers of the letter sent to Maria do Céu Albuquerque: «you cannot only watch support measures that require the submission of an application for the “Short Chains and Local Markets” operation», they said.
Even so, according to the minister, "there is no other measure, at this time, to be assigned, namely with those who suffer from a drop in demand."
The official assured, however, that "we are waiting for the European Commission to authorize any support for products and producers that are suffering more from this crisis, but, at this time, there is no such authorization itself."
As for the withdrawals from the market, Maria do Céu Albuquerque explained how they are only intended for "producer organizations".
And this is another point contested by farmers who, they argue, "we cannot see the financial support for the withdrawal from the market of products that are supported in their installation and maintenance phase and that use temporary labor from external sources, maintained in good conditions. objectionable'.
Faced with this, the minister said that "there are other measures to support all farmers, from lines of credit and there is a set of measures of a more immaterial nature, to create conditions for the stimulation of local products."
«No one is left out. We are all in an exceptional situation. Nobody was prepared for this. What we have to find are ways to mitigate the effects of the drop in demand that will inevitably exist, but which depend not only on our authorization, but also on the European Commission”, he concluded.
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