Commissionner Cioloş visits Portugal
During his visit to Portugal, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Cioloş, underlined that we should encourage farmers to organize themselves. Together with the Portuguese Minister for Agriculture, Antonio Serrano, Commissioner Cioloş visited the Santarem Fair, meeting many farmers and their representatives (AJAP, CAP, CAN, CONFAGRI).
During a seminar on the future Common Agriculture Policy, Mr Cioloş stressed that we must promote the diversity of our agricultures. "More than in the past, we need to take into account the different categories of farms, natural conditions in which farmers are working, and public goods they provide in terms of biodiversity, sustainable use of natural resources and employment", stated Commissioner Cioloş.
Dacian Cioloş visited the dam in Alqueva, that will facilitate the irrigation of 110 000 hectares of arable land, stimulate tourism, and produce energy. He also went to the Eugénio de Almeida's foundation farm - a 7000 hectares farm (including 800 hectares of irrigated land) that produces mainly wine, olive oil, fodder and cork. The program concluded with a tour on a Montado, an extensive farm combining cork trees, pastures and cereals.
