Paulo Portas praised the "extraordinary contribution" of agriculture in the country’s export performance on the day that the National Institute of Statistics reported a significantly larger trade deficit last year than in 2013.
The Deputy Prime Minister was in Santarém at the first of 17 regional sessions to be held by the Confederation of Portugal Farmers to try and explain to members the workings of the new flat rate VAT system for agriculture, one of the many government measures that has led to thousands of small prodcuers quit the business.
Portas said that Portuguese exports "continue to rise in growth" and stressed the "extraordinary contribution" of the agrifood sector for the export rise in 2014, "the best year ever."
"Contrary to what some thought, exports continue to rise. The truth is that Portuguese exports returned to growth in 2014," which was "the best year ever" with the agri-food sector making an" extraordinary contribution."
Portas highlighted the work that has been developed with the Minister of Agriculture, Assunçao Cristas, in relation to foreign markets, stating that in recent years there are "70 new export markets for more than 120 Portuguese products."
The Deputy PM also said that the Rural Development Programme has shown that €1 invested in agriculture has been exceeded by €6 from the private sector and that the programme has 'protected Portuguese farmers.'
With an overall trade deficit for 2014 of €10.6 billion, due mainly to a fall in the value of fuels exported from the Sines refinery, farmers can export all they can produce without having much impact on the overall picture.
A 'Buy Portuguese' campaign would help these figures improve measurably and with many foreign owned supermarkets importing basic foodstuffs in preference to home grown produce, a change in consumer behaviour would have the same affect at a lower cost than a continuing drive to boost exports.
