Lisbon, Nov. 23, 2025 (Lusa) - CAP President Álvaro Mendonça e Moura said that the confederation has never lost its rebellious spirit and iron will to fight against injustice, as it marks its 50th anniversary.
"There is an inherent vitality in the way we were born that, fortunately, has not only been maintained but has developed. There is a dynamic of affirmation, of contesting everything that affects agriculture and forests, which has a lot to do with our origins, our birth," said Álvaro Mendonça e Moura in an interview with Lusa.
For the former ambassador, the Portuguese Agriculture Confederation (CAP) never lost its rebellious “modus operandi”, which was essential in ensuring that the military felt popular support for the 25 November movement when the country entered a state of siege after the far-left military took strategic points.
This "iron will" to fight against injustice and contempt for farmers and foresters was never lost in the CAP, he assured.
The confederation was founded on 25 November 1975, at the height of the Ongoing Revolutionary Process (PREC) and agrarian reform, a period that Mendonça e Moura recalled as very difficult, since it was necessary to "start from scratch", bring associations together and set up the entire support structure for the sector.
The CAP president recalled that agriculture has undergone major changes, which is also due to the support given to the various associations, as well as to their contributions to the definition of public policies.
Álvaro Mendonça e Moura stressed that CAP has "an absolute red line" that is part of its origins, freedom of association, which he said had already been reached when it was suggested, during the government of the so-called “geringonça” (PS, BE, PCP and PEV), that Douro winegrowers be required to join the Casa do Douro to carry out their activity.
The CAP president noted that civil society needs, without pressure from the state, to organise itself better and develop, considering that there is still a "long way to go" and pointed out that the confederation, over 50 years, has had very good relations with governments of different parties and "terrible relations" with others.
"The point for us is not to know the political leanings of the Minister of Agriculture. For us, the point is whether the government attaches importance to agriculture or whether, on the contrary, as we have seen in the past, it seeks to create all kinds of obstacles," he noted.
CAP's strategy for the coming years will be to continue strengthening its presence throughout the country, to continue supporting associations, and to fight for an increase in farmers' income.
CAP is represented in several ministries and is a member of the Economic and Social Committee and the Permanent Commission for Social Dialogue.
This confederation has around 256 affiliated organisations from north to south, including Madeira and the Azores.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, CAP is holding a conference on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Pavilhão de Portugal in Lisbon on the theme "The evolution of Portuguese agriculture and forestry since 1975, in the context of the country's socio-economic and political change".
The event will bring together, in addition to members and partners, policymakers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to also plan the future of national agriculture and forestry.
PE/ADB // ADB.
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