The Confederation of Farmers (CAP) has urgently requested a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and the Sea, aiming to discuss the significant mismanagement issues impacting the Rural Development Program 2020 (PDR 2020) and the Single Request 2025 (PU 2025).
Farmers are calling for immediate administrative policy measures to address their “constraints and difficulties,” while criticizing the dysfunctional state of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Sea and highlighting the management failures of certain unnamed officials.
CAP has pointed out that the negative effects of this mismanagement primarily affect farmers but also have broader implications for taxpayers. Regarding PDR 2020, led by Álvaro Mendonça e Moura, CAP noted that over 255 million euros are expected to be allocated this year. However, according to the managing authority of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (PEPAC), “there is no money available to meet these commitments.”
The confederation argued against financing projects through credit lines, insisting that payments must be made promptly, with the State taking responsibility for any resulting burdens due to its “inability to manage.”
In terms of PU 2025, CAP highlighted an “incomprehensible series of blunders, significant opacity, and a marked inability to manage procedures.” Farmers also commended the exemplary dedication of numerous organization technicians who “sacrificed nights, holidays, and weekends” to ensure the submission of applications.
“The current situation demands swift action at the highest decision-making level, benefiting agriculture, Portuguese farmers, and forestry producers, as well as all taxpayers who expect efficient resource management,” the statement emphasized, urging Agriculture Minister José Manuel Fernandes to resolve the issues decisively.
