Families in need of Faro will have access to new social gardens in early 2021

The first and most important step, the signing of the protocol between the Chamber of Faro and the Algarve Regional Directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries (Drapalg) for the transfer of land for the installation of social gardens, was given today.

Now, the details and preparation of the space are needed so that around 50 needy families from Faro can start working the land and producing “from the beginning of next year”.

This morning, Pedro Valadas Monteiro, regional director of Agriculture, and Rogério Bacalhau, president of the Chamber of Faro, signed the document that determines that the autarchy will manage, for an indefinite period, a land of about 2500 square meters, within the regional management complex, in Patacão, in Faro.

Like Sul Informação advanced first hand, the Chamber of Faro decided to "extend the network and reach more families" and create more plots for social vegetable gardens in the municipality, which will join those that already exist in Vila-Adentro.

For this, the local authority launched the challenge to Drapalg for the transfer of land in Patacão, which was accepted and deserved the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture.

After all, this social aspect has had a place in the regional direction for a long time.

“We started many years ago with ASMAL, which had an occupational therapy training center here. We also currently have a protocol with the Food Bank Against Hunger, which is producing in a land that is exactly in front of what we gave away today», explained Pedro Valadas Monteiro, on the sidelines of the session.

One of the requirements of the protocol signed today "is that cultures must be conducted according to the organic production method".

"On the other hand, we are going to raise awareness and provide conditions so that the residues and by-products of agricultural activity can be composted, to encourage the circularity of the production process," added the regional director of Agriculture.

Beneficiaries will receive technical and technological support from specialized technicians.

“As we know, many of the people who keep these plots have little familiarity with the agricultural activity and need to have some training. On the other hand, constant technical support is needed», said Pedro Valadas Monteiro.

The technicians of the regional directorate “will obviously be available to provide this technical support, but also training, which will enable people to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools”.

Before reaching this point, it is necessary to choose to whom the plots will be allocated. Something that depends on the regulation of this new space for social gardens, which is being finalized and which will be presented "in the next Chamber meeting", according to Rogério Bacalhau.

"Right now, our services are organizing that space, dividing it into plots and creating the conditions for people to move between the different plots without having to cross the spaces of others", revealed the mayor of Faro.

Although the exact number of plots has not yet been stipulated, the Farense mayor estimates that they are “about 50”.

«This project will be ready by the end of the month. Afterwards, we will still have to seal the space, to create conditions for separation from the rest of the DRAP land. It will have its own door and rules so that people only use that space», added Rogério Bacalhau.

As for the support of technicians from the regional direction, it is seen as very important by the president of the Chamber.

“We already have a working social garden. Most of the people who exploit plots there were already connected to the land, because they have family members in the countryside, so they have some agricultural experience. Here, we have the advantage of counting on the help of DRAP technicians, so that even people who have never had any contact with agriculture can come here», he said.

“We hope that by the end of the year we have everything prepared, so that the project can start at the beginning of 2021”, concluded Rogério Bacalhau.

Photos: Flavio Costa | Sul Informação