Lisbon, Aug. 27, 2025 (Lusa) - Support for farmers with damage caused by the fires of less than €10,000 will begin to be paid out next week, the minister for the economy and territorial cohesion said on Wednesday.
"This week the surveys are being made and next week we'll start making payments to farmers, those under €10,000," assured Economy Minister Castro Almeida in an interview with RTP3.
He emphasised the speed with which the support will reach the beneficiaries, adding that in some cases, such as animal feed, it is not possible to wait any longer.
Castro Almeida emphasised that it is currently not easy to find animal feed on the market, particularly hay, and that this option is being sold at a high price, precisely because of the fires.
However, h e said that he had received word from the agriculture minister, José Manuel Fernandes, that more than half of the calls to the telephone line set up to report support needs for animals were to offer goods and not to ask for them.
"I have no news of an animal starving to death after the fires," he emphasised.
As for the composition of the forest, Castro Almeida pointed out that although Portugal has a lot of eucalyptus, the amount it has is not enough for the needs of industry.
On the other hand, he noted that there are pulp companies which own eucalyptus groves that don't burn.
He therefore argued that the fires and their scale are also due to the disorganisation of the forest.
The minister for the economy and territorial cohesion also said that the government aimed to encourage companies to set up in the interior of the country, emphasising that a greater subsidy is already being given for this to happen and that there are tenders for which only candidates who want to set up factories in the interior of the country can apply.
When asked about the government's strategy for dealing with arsonists, the former mayor pointed out that more than 100 people have been remanded in custody, which he considered to be "an excellent sign", given that it is "the minimum that is asked of a citizen caught setting fires".
As for the sentences handed down, he said he was more in favour of swift decisions than large sentences.
"I want to see [an arsonist] sentenced, even if it's to 10 years, but quickly. Justice must be swift if it is to be effective," he said.
The prime minister, Luís Montenegro, announced on Thursday at a press conference in Viseu, where the extraordinary cabinet meeting was held, a "new legislative instrument" to be adopted from now on in circumstances similar to those the country has experienced in recent weeks.
Among the 45 measures approved is financial support for the “profitability of agricultural production potential and exceptional support for farmers to compensate for losses, even through undocumented expenses”, up to a maximum of €10,000, as well as a plan for the forest, to be implemented by 2050.
Mainland Portugal has been affected by multiple large rural fires since July, especially in the North and Centre.
The fires have killed four people, including a firefighter, and injured several, some seriously, and have totally or partially destroyed first and second homes, as well as agricultural and livestock holdings and forest areas.
Portugal has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, under which it has two Fire Boss aeroplanes, a Super Puma helicopter and two Canadair aeroplanes.
According to provisional official figures, by 23 August, around 250,000 hectares had burned in the country, more than 57,000 of which were in the fire that started in Arganil alone.
PE/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
