The president of the Graciosa Farmers Association, João Mendonça, announced that the milk price paid to producers on the islands of Terceira and Graciosa “will increase by 2.5 cents, with one cent added to the base price and an additional 1.5 cents if the required fat and protein levels are met.”
This decision was disclosed during a general assembly of UNICOL, a cooperative union, held on Thursday.
The association’s president expressed that the milk producers on Graciosa “are very discouraged due to the low milk prices paid to producers.”
“The newly decided price is not satisfactory because our goal was a three-cent increase in the base price at this stage. Subsequently, we plan to gradually equalize it with the price in São Miguel, which is around 46 cents,” João Mendonça stated.
Despite this, the association hopes that this increase serves as “a signal” for the price paid to milk producers “to rise further in the near future.”
The Graciosa Association also expressed concerns about “the lack of labor” in the agricultural sector on this Azorean island.
On February 25, over twenty milk producers from Graciosa demanded higher prices and raised awareness of the issue with the Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM).
During a two-day official visit to the island, producers gathered near Graciosa’s aerodrome and approached Regional Government President José Manuel Bolieiro and Agriculture and Food Secretary António Ventura.
Carlos Picanço, a milk producer and member of the Graciosa Farmers Association, claimed, “The current situation is an injustice,” highlighting that the island has “the lowest prices in the Azores and Europe.”
According to the producer and director, milk is sold in Graciosa for 37 cents per liter, with the goal of matching prices with other Azorean islands.
The Regional Government President assured producers of the government’s support.
“We are working within our agricultural policy developed in the Azores to enhance our productive sector capabilities and to transform and industrialize, thereby creating a ‘Marca Açores’ of excellence, as seen in our agriculture and livestock industries,” he said.
On Graciosa Island, there are over twenty milk producers who produce approximately eight million liters annually, primarily for cheese production at Lactogal’s factory, according to industry association data.
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