Lisbon, March 13, 2025 (Lusa) - On Thursday, the government defined the conditions for granting support totalling €8 million in response to the impact of Blue Tongue and storms Kirk and Dana, according to a decree published in the Diário da República.
At stake is temporary and exceptional support of €8 million, in response to recognised natural disasters, which is part of the Mainland Rural Development Programme (PDR 2020).
People or companies whose farms suffered production losses due to the blue tongue or storms Kirk and Dana are eligible for this support.
The maximum amount of support per beneficiary cannot exceed €42,000.
The decree also sets support amounts for the products covered.
For grain maize it is €805 per hectare, for silage maize €1,685 per hectare, for apples €3,164 per hectare and for chestnuts €392 per hectare.
In the case of sheep, the support is €48 per animal.
Other beneficiaries are farms with occurrences on 9 October in the municipalities of Amares, Armamar, Arouca, Cabeceiras de Basto, Caminha, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Fafe, Famalicão, Lamego, Maia, Matosinhos, Melgaço, Moimenta da Beira, Monção, Paços de Ferreira, Penedono, Ponte da Barca, Póvoa de Lanhoso, Santa Maria da Feira, São João da Pesqueira, Tabuaço, Tarouca, Vieira do Minho, Vila Nova de Cerveira and Vizela.
The parishes of Ovar, Avanca, Canelas, Murtosa, Bunheiro, Angeja, Urtigosa, Alfarelos, Montemor, Santo Varão, Pereira do Campo, Carapinheira, Tentúgal, as well as the Union of Parishes of Arzila, Ameal and Taveiro, Souto, Carpalhosa and Ortigosa are also beneficiaries, with occurrences between 9 and 10 October.
The operations covered by this aid must take place on farms affected by these phenomena and must correspond to a drop in production of 30% or more.
The Commission must confirm this fall for Coordination and Rural Development (CCDR) for crop production and by the Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary (DGAV) for animal production.
According to the decree, signed by the agriculture minister, José Manuel Fernandes, crop production includes maize, apples and chestnuts, while animal production covers sheep affected by bluetongue.
Applications must be submitted using an electronic form available on the RDP 2020 portal.
Payments will be made by the end of this year.
The law comes into force on Friday.
PE/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
