The Ministry of Agriculture made ten million euros available to address losses in agricultural holdings caused by fires that broke out this summer in the municipalities of Valpaços, in the Vila Real district, and Vouzela, in the Viseu district, which extended to other municipalities. The order signed by the Minister of Agriculture and the Sea, José Manuel Fernandes, officially recognizes these fires as a natural catastrophe.
The Vouzela fire, which occurred between July 2 and 7, spread to the municipalities of Oliveira de Frades and Tondela, in the Viseu district, and Sever do Vouga and Águeda, in the Aveiro district, affecting the territory of 12 parishes. The Valpaços rural fire, in Trás-os-Montes, was active between July 28 and August 2, extending to the municipalities of Vinhais, Mirandela, and Macedo de Cavaleiros, in the Bragança district, and affecting 20 parishes.
The financial support is granted as a non-reimbursable subsidy, with full 100% coverage of eligible expenses up to 10,000 euros. For expenses exceeding this amount, the support percentage is 80% in the case of beneficiaries with agricultural insurance and 50% for remaining cases.
The order frames this measure within the Risk Management intervention of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (CAP SP) in mainland Portugal, aiming to restore the productive potential of the affected agricultural holdings and enabling the return to normal activity for farmers.
