Speaking at the first Young Farmers Meeting in Macedo de Cavaleiros, Fernandes said the new funding round would be designed to make the process quicker and less bureaucratic. ECO reported that the scheme would use simplified costs and change some of the administrative requirements around water licensing and the transfer of farms.

One proposed change would allow applicants to provide water-use licences later in the process, after a project has been approved and moves towards a contract. Fernandes also said it should become easier to take over an existing farm without the transfer creating extra obstacles for an application.

The announcement did not include a closing date or full eligibility rules. The general guidance on the IFAP application portal says applications must be submitted electronically during the period set out in each individual call notice. Prospective applicants will need to check that notice for details such as who qualifies, which costs are eligible and what documents are required.

The need to attract new people into farming is reflected in Eurostat’s 2023 figures. Only 4.9% of farm managers in Portugal were under 40, one of the lowest shares in the European Union. At the other end of the age scale, 51.9% of Portuguese farm managers were aged 65 or over. Eurostat says a farm manager is the person responsible for the day-to-day financial and production decisions on a holding.

Fernandes put the average age of Portuguese farmers at around 64 and said generational renewal would also bring new knowledge and technology into the sector, including drones, robotics and precision agriculture. These tools can help farmers monitor crops and manage resources, but technology is only one part of starting a viable business. New entrants also need to secure land, water, equipment and access to markets.

The minister referred to another €330 million programme intended to support 2,000 young farmers, saying more than 1,500 projects were already underway through that measure. The new €35 million call is additional support, not the total amount currently allocated to generational renewal.

The new funding aims to bring 200 farmers into the sector, but the practical value for applicants will depend on the full rules and the amount available for each project. Once the call notice is published, it should clarify how the simplified process will work and what young people need to do to apply.

Set The Portugal News as your preferred source for news on Google

GoogleAdd as a preferred source on Google