The government guarantees that environmental payments to farmers will begin this month

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Agriculture told Lusa that it had concluded negotiations with the European Commission, adding that payments to farmers under eco-schemes would begin this month.

“The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has already completed negotiations with the European Commission, achieving a positive result, which will allow payments under eco-schemes. [Agricultura Biológica e Produção Integrada] farmers starting this month,” reads the note sent to Lusa.

According to the same document, the confederations have already been instructed to send their contributions by the end of the week.

Subsequently, the diploma will be published.

Last week, the Council of Ministers approved a resolution to allocate 320 million euros in support to the agricultural sector, aimed at mitigating the impact of drought and inflation on production costs.

Speaking to Lusa at the time, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food explained that this amount was included in a support package for the sector worth more than €400 million that was launched by the government.

The remaining amount relates to support, which depends on the green light from Brussels, he said.

The government announced a support package worth more than €400 million aimed at mitigating the effects of the drought and strengthening PEPAC – the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy – which has not stopped protests in the sector.

This includes reversing announced cuts of 35% and 25% to the organic farming and integrated production schemes, worth €60 million.

Farmers, who demand CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) flexibility, fair working conditions and competition, the right to adequate food and increased value of operations, have decided to continue with planned protests, justifying that support is being provided as a “handful of nothing”.

Since then, Agriculture Minister Maria do Seu Antunes has been meeting with representatives of the Civil Farmers’ Movement, associations and confederations representing the sector.