THE CURRENT drought situation affecting Portugal is obliging farm owners to rely on an alternative type of food for their animals, since there is little or no pasture available for cattle to graze. However, the alternative food comes with costs.
Due to this being an exceptional situation, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Jaime Silva, has decided to increase the credit (a system created by law in June) available to country’s farmers by 40 million euros. With this added amount, the credit offered to farmers will now reach a total of 90 million euros.
According to the ministry, the credit was initially set up with a view to reducing the damages of cattle farmers, but, due to the worsening drought, the government went on to make the aid available to pig farmers and stable owners, who have also been facing extreme difficulties with regard to finding food for their animals.
