Portugal approves €20 million farm aid amid rising production costs

The Portuguese government has approved an emergency €20 million aid package for farmers to offset sharply higher production costs linked to energy, fertilizer and other inputs, a situation exacerbated by the war in the Middle East. Agriculture Minister José Manuel Fernandes explained that the scheme will pay €28 per hectare for irrigated lands and €12 per hectare for rain‑fed areas, with additional payments for livestock – €10 per milking cow, €12 per dairy cow and €1.5 per eligible sheep or goat – and a beneficiary cap of €50,000. While the support aims to preserve the competitiveness of Portuguese agriculture and safeguard national food security, Fernandes warned that the amount is insufficient and called for coordinated EU measures to avoid market distortions and unfair competition. He also noted bureaucratic delays and pledged to simplify procedures, while highlighting broader investments of €660 million in the sector and further funding for water infrastructure.