The Minister of Economy, Manuel Castro Almeida, announced on Friday that farmers who suffered losses up to 10,000 euros due to wildfires will be compensated without the need to provide proof.
“Farmers who lost stables, animals, animal feed, fruit trees… any loss up to 10,000 euros will be compensated without requiring documents. It’s a very quick support because it’s necessary to act rapidly,” said the Minister of Economy to journalists in Ponte da Barca.
He explained that if the loss exceeds 10,000 euros, a more complex process with proof is required. He had previously indicated that support for farmers would be provided quickly, stating that “up to 10,000 euros only requires an inspection by the municipal chamber.”
“The money already exists for the support,” said the minister, indicating that the payment time depends on the process analysis.
Regarding the assessment, he mentioned, “it is not yet possible” and there is no final value. However, Ponte da Barca is considered the most affected region.
The Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion did not specify the amount of support for those affected by the recent wildfires. However, he assured that farmers would receive help “quickly,” housing tourism would be specific, and those who lost homes were “priority.”
The National Agriculture Confederation (CNA) expressed solidarity with those affected by the wildfires in mainland Portugal and urged the Government to “guarantee, without delays” effective financial support to compensate farmers.
The organization lamented “all the losses suffered, of assets, productive potential, biodiversity,” and offered words of comfort to all who lost “what took a lifetime of work to achieve.”
The CNA emphasized the need to “ensure, without delays, de-bureaucratized and effective financial support to compensate small and medium farmers and forest producers affected, as well as aid for animal feed in cases of destruction of pastures and others.”
“This is mainly the time to fight the flames on the ground. However, to prevent the populations from being further penalized, the Government must swiftly mobilize the necessary means to assess the losses suffered and the loss of productive potential,” it urged.
The CNA hopes that, in collaboration with forest producers, the PSD/CDS-PP Government will promote the establishment of reception and commercialization parks for wood saved from the fires, “with minimum prices, to secure some income for the affected small and medium producers, to clean the forests and protect the environment and resources such as water and soil.”
Beyond immediate measures to minimize the “harmful effects of the fires that cyclically” affect the country, there is a need to “go far beyond plans and announcements of successive Governments.”
“It is necessary to implement the required measures for good forest management, starting with combating the low prices forced upon forest production, which are the main reason for the current state of many thousands of hectares,” the note reads.
The CNA recalled that it already pointed out that “the vast extent of these fires confirms the severity of the error in the drastic reduction (-44%) of forest support as part of the third reprogramming of the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (PEPAC) for 2023-2027, decided by the Government and the Minister of Agriculture against the opinion of all sector agents.”
The government decided to “worryingly cut (-38%) the funds for agriculture and forestry proposed by the European Commission for the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034.”
Since Monday, numerous rural fires have affected mainland Portugal, particularly in the North, Center, and Alentejo regions. The flames led to the evacuation of villages.
Several people, including firefighters and civilians, received assistance, though no severe injuries were reported. There were also no indications of destroyed homes, but forest, agricultural, and livestock areas, as well as outbuildings, were burned.
