José Manuel Fernandes announced financial support for agricultural producers who have suffered losses exceeding 30% during a visit to strawberry fields in Torres Vedras, Lisbon. Farmers incurring losses up to 5,000 euros will receive full coverage, those with losses between 5,000 and 50,000 euros will receive 85% coverage, and those with losses between 50,000 and 400,000 euros will receive 50% coverage. The income support will be set at 42,000 euros per beneficiary.
Following the assessment of the damage, the Agriculture Minister also indicated the possibility of offering support through credit lines or state aid to those whose losses do not reach 30%. The support is intended for “affected sectors,” with strawberry farms identified as the hardest hit.
The minister stated, “My perception is that they meet the 30% loss threshold in some of the farms.” He mentioned that announcements for application submissions will open “in one to two weeks” after assessments are completed by the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions (CCDR).
“We will open a notice for the entire mainland, not just this region,” Fernandes added. He emphasized a swift process, urging affected parties to register their losses on the CCDR’s online platform.
In the Oeste region, the Ministry of Agriculture has received 27 aid requests totaling 2.5 million euros to date.
The Martinho depression, characterized by heavy rain, wind, and strong maritime agitation, resulted in thousands of incidents across mainland Portugal, predominantly tree and structure falls, particularly on the early morning of the previous Thursday, when orange weather warnings, the second-most severe level, were in effect.
