“This week, the surveys are being conducted, and next week we will start making payments to farmers whose amounts are less than 10,000 euros,” stated the Minister of Economy, Castro Almeida, in an interview with RTP3.
The minister emphasized the speed with which this aid will reach the beneficiaries, adding that in some cases, such as animal feed, there is no time to wait.
Castro Almeida pointed out that it is currently difficult to find animal feed, particularly hay, on the market and noted that this option is being sold at a high price due to the fires.
However, he mentioned that he received an indication from the Minister of Agriculture, José Manuel Fernandes, noting that more than half of the calls received by the helpline created to report support needs for animals were to offer supplies rather than request them.
“I have no news of any animal dying of hunger after the fires,” he emphasized.
Regarding the forest composition, Castro Almeida noted that although Portugal has many eucalyptus trees, the quantity is insufficient for the industry’s needs.
On the other hand, he mentioned the existence of cellulose companies owning eucalyptus forests that do not burn.
Thus, he argued that the fires and their scale are also due to forest disorganization.
The Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion also stated that the government’s objective is to encourage the establishment of companies in the interior, highlighting that there is now a greater bonus for this to happen and there are tenders that only candidates looking to set up factories in the interior of the country can enter.
When questioned about the government’s strategy to deal with arsonists, the former mayor highlighted that more than 100 people are preventively detained, which he considered “an excellent sign,” as it is “the least expected from a citizen caught setting fires.”
Regarding the penalties applied, he stated that he is more in favor of quick decisions than of severe sentences.
“I want to see [an arsonist convicted], even if it’s for 10 years, but quickly. Justice must be swift to be effective,” he stated.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced on Thursday, at a press conference in Viseu, where the extraordinary Council of Ministers took place, 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 the agricultural productive potential” and an exceptional support for farmers to compensate for losses, even through undocumented expenses, up to a maximum of 10,000 euros, as well as a forest plan to be carried out until 2050.
Mainland Portugal has been affected by multiple large-scale rural fires since July, especially in the North and Center regions.
The fires have caused four deaths, including a firefighter, and several injuries, some serious, and destroyed homes, agricultural and livestock exploitations, and forest areas either partially or completely.
Portugal activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, under which it has two Fire Boss planes, a Super Puma helicopter, and two Canadair planes.
According to provisional official data, as of August 23, about 250,000 hectares have burned in the country, more than 57,000 of which were in the fire that started in Arganil.
[News updated at 11:46 PM]
