The European Commission has approved the regional proposal for modification of the POSEI for 2023, with which the Canarian countryside and livestock will have a support program worth 302.2 million euros in the coming year.
The green light to this document, essential for the primary sector of the Canary Islands, represents a significant budget increase in the main measures and a guarantee for agricultural production in the islands.
For the additional POSEI, 12.3 million more annually are contemplated compared to the initial figure of 2022, which raises the total amount to 33.8 million annually. From 2019 to 2023, the additional POSEI aid has increased by approximately 20 million.
For the support measure for vegetable production, its allocation goes from 53 million in 2022 to 58 for 2023, registering increases in measures related to fruit and vegetable crops, or flowers and plants, with a 3.5 million increase. For the potato, the aid to the surface is improved, going from 950 euros per hectare to 1,240 and for the production of wines with PDO, the aid has increased since 2019 by about 50% per hectare.
In relation to measure III of support for animal production, the budget increases by approximately 7 million euros, going from 33.4 in 2022, to 40.4 million for 2023. Among its main modifications, 4 million more for milk production stand out, with an increase of between 50 and 60% for aid to cow's milk and between 7 and 8 cents per liter in goat's milk.
In both cases, aid is increased for the first time in the non-capital islands with the aim of alleviating the higher production costs. Also, a 20% improvement in meats; and aid to forage crops, which rises from 350 euros per hectare to 600 euros to encourage the cultivation of local forage for animal feed.
The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Government of the Canary Islands, Alicia Vanoostende, highlighted "the cooperation and teamwork of all the sectors involved to have a strong budget document with guarantees for agricultural activity on the islands; it is the POSEI with the highest financial allocation in history." Vanoostende also stressed that "these are relevant improvements that will contribute to strengthening a strategic sector for society that has had to suffer the economic consequences of the increase in inputs and raw materials, the war in Ukraine, or the volcanic eruption on the island of La Palma."
