The National Confederation of Agricultural and Agricultural Credit Cooperatives of Portugal (Confagri) stated this Monday that, until the end of the year, the payments planned for farmers will be reduced compared to the same period last year, demanding the advancement of community aid.
FIPA, PI [Instituto de Financiamento da Agricultura e Pescas] announced the indicative schedule of support payments for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), integrated into the Single Application 2023 (PU2023), concluding that, until the end of December, the expected payments are reduced compared to those paid in the same period of 2022. ″, can be read in a Confagri statement.
According to the same note and citing data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), Confagri states that, in 2022, Portuguese farmers had a reduction in income from agricultural activity, in real terms, of 11.8%, fearing “that in 2023 it will be even worse.”
We view with extreme concern the payment schedule confirmed by IFAP, as it reveals that farmers will incur more costs, which will undoubtedly affect their income and will be a further obstacle to the competitiveness of the sector,” says the deputy secretary general of Confagri, Nuno Serra.
This year, The cereal campaign was marked by drought and the production of apples and pears suffered drops in productivity.while dairy and meat livestock production, in the face of food shortages, saw production costs increase, highlights the confederation.
In addition, Confagri indicates, a new requirement, the “Surface Surveillance System – SVS”, with a period of 15 days for changes and correction of requests for farmers to respond to all requests, “makes it extremely difficult for farmers and their organizations, compliance with the calendar.”
Confagri, as a result of these extremely painful events for farmers, calls for [que] The guardianship ensures, with the banking institutions that financed the advance payment of income support, that there are no sanctions derived from possible delays in the amortization of the contracted credits, a consequence of the reduction of payments until December,” he indicates.
For the confederation, “It is imperative that the Government adapt public policies to the difficult circumstances that farmers are going through. and that guarantees that there is no loss of income for those who need it “to produce food.”
Source: Observadora
