While she did nothing for her popularity by insisting recently that all small producers be registered for tax – whether or not they sell enough to make ends – agriculture minister Assunção Cristas scored some brownie points at the weekend when she visited Tavira to attend the town’s exhibition on the Mediterranean Diet.
Cristas revealed the government plans to introduce incentives for farmers who save water.
“We are conscious that irrigation is extraordinarily important and should be done in a sustainable, environmentally-friendly way,” she told journalists. Thus, the incentives will be written into the government’s next rural development programme, to be sent for approval to the EC.
“Spending what is strictly necessary is part of our strategy for adaptation to climate change,” she added.
Cristas’ visit – a celebration of Tavira’s success in elevating the Mediterranean diet to intangible cultural heritage status – also saw the minister taking part in a cookery demonstration.
