Between September 2016 and February 2017, the companies of Almeria exported vegetables worth 1.6 million Euro; a figure that represents an increase of 25% over the same period of the previous season.
The Councillor of Agriculture and Fisheries of Andalusia, Carmen Ortiz, reported this data during the celebration of the fair Infoagro Exhibition 2017, which was held last week in Aguadulce, Roquetas de Mar, Almeria.
In her speech, the head of Agriculture explained that Almeria has become the "largest producer of vegetables in Andalusia," accounting for 61% of the region's total. Carmen Ortiz also pointed out that the province is the "main Spanish exporter of these products," with more than 2.15 million Euro in international sales in 2016.
The Councillor stressed that the progress made by Almeria is mainly due to "the entrepreneurial character of its people, who are committed to modernization, innovation, efficiency and sustainability."
She also pointed out that producers have the support of the Government of Andalusia to "maintain this leading position, namely through incentives such as those granted for the creation and operation of the Innovation Operational Groups."
The 2016 call for these grants, with a total budget of € 7.4 million, includes some twenty projects in the fruit and vegetable sector as provisional beneficiaries.
Ortiz highlighted the high number of applications received for this line of aid. This "demonstrates its dynamic effect, as it has got producers, companies and knowledge agents collaborating in the design of innovative projects that respond to the specific needs of the sector."
In addition to these subsidies, the Andalusian Administration's support to the fruit and vegetable sector is also evident in the management of other lines convened in 2016. They encourage the modernization of greenhouses (€ 20 million) and the improvement of the agro-food industries (€ 108 million), as well as the granting of agro-environmental aid that will be applied for the first time for greenhouses in 2017 (almost € 11 million).
Source: Efeagro.com