Bragança, Portugal, Sept. 29, 2026 (Lusa) - The government's 10-cent discount on agricultural diesel, announced to tackle rising fuel prices, is a positive step but could be strengthened to better support farmers in Trás-os-Montes, and some crops could benefit from additional measures.

Several agricultural business owners in the district of Bragança told Lusa today that «every cent» or «aid» is «welcome», yet they noted that this government support remains modest compared with their day-to-day costs.

«Farming with diesel at this price is completely unsustainable. The olive harvest is already approaching; olive and olive oil prices are extremely low, and at the moment, we're almost comparing the price of a litre of diesel to that of a litre of olive oil,» Pedro Morgado told Lusa.

The farmer from Vilarelhos, in the municipality of Alfândega da Fé, grows olives, almonds and fruit. Each month, they use between «1,500 and 2,000 litres» of coloured diesel, commonly known as ‘green diesel'.

According to Pedro Morgado, diesel costs «weigh heavily» on those who make a living from farming, and the yield or selling price of the produce is not always enough to cover rising fuel costs.

«During the almond harvest, working with two tractors that use 200 litres of diesel a day, it came to €370 a day. If the day doesn't go so well, the almonds I harvest aren't enough to pay for the diesel, let alone the rest of the investment involved in everything that goes on,» he pointed out.

The businessman also runs a petrol station in Vale da Vilariça, which supplies small-scale farmers in that part of the Bragança district.

He cannot recall ever seeing agricultural diesel at such a high price, exceeding €1.70 per litre, when at the start of the year it was just over €1.00 per litre.

As things stand, he insists, it is «challenging» to keep going, given that agriculture these days «is mechanised».

«These small-scale farmers are currently stepping away from farming altogether,» he warned, stressing that unless there is a «very drastic change» in the near future, we will see «the abandonment of micro-farming».

According to Pedro Morgado, these days farmers are buying only the fuel «essential» to maintain their land and keep their subsidies.

«The extra we're paying for fuel, in my case, amounts to €7,000 or €8,000 more by the end of the year – that's probably what I need to invest in fertiliser and chemicals. Looking ahead to next year, I'm starting to think that if this changes, it'll be possible. In fact, I've already done so this year when ordering fertiliser. Instead of buying a full lorryload, I bought half a lorryload – 12 tonnes,» he explained.

This cutback may have consequences for production in the coming years, because this year he is not «making the investment he ought to be making in fertiliser».

In Pedro Morgado's view, the government could «mitigate the problem in a different way», because «everyone knows that 60% of the final price of fuel is made up of taxes».

For another farmer, Cristophe Monteiro, the situation is also challenging, given that government aid «is not enough to alleviate the difficulties» he has been facing with fuel prices. He pointed the finger at the Ministry of Agriculture, which «is completely abandoning farmers at this time», because the support schemes are only for «those who can afford it», not small farmers.

«Certainly, if this carries on like this, we'll have to think about it – I wouldn't say give up, but perhaps we'll have to rethink the business and try to adapt in a different way,» he said.

Farmers are already implementing the first changes to crop treatments, which may affect production.

«So far, we've been trying to alternate treatments to keep costs down. Of course, we know this will affect productivity. It's like everything else, but we have to be flexible and adapt to the circumstances we face, because it really isn't easy,» he said.

The businessman from the municipality of Vila Flor not only produces almonds but also processes and distributes them, which drives up road diesel costs.

«Distribution also entails another expense due to the much higher cost of fuel,» he said.

Given the reduction in profit margins, being a farmer these days is «a challenge», according to farmer Cátia Afonso, an olive oil and pistachio producer in the Vilariça Valley.

«We normally use between 12,000 and 15,000 litres; as we have a storage tank, we buy in large quantities. We've managed to save on some price rises because we still had stock, but we've noticed a price increase of around 58% since the start of the year,» they added.

According to the farmer, growing crops in Trás-os-Montes also drives up production costs.

«On top of that, here in the interior, where most of the raw materials we need come from elsewhere, we have no local industry, so we face major challenges throughout the year,» they said.

This month, the government approved, at a cabinet meeting, extending agricultural support by 10 cents until the end of the year.

ANYP/ADB // ADB.

Lusa