Andorra la VellaThe Government is increasing economic support for the country’s agricultural and livestock sector. This was announced this Sunday by the Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, Guillem Casal, during the celebration of the Andorran Livestock Fair. Casal has detailed that, once approved by the Government this past Tuesday, the Bill for the budget for the year 2025, contemplates a 10% increase in global aid allocated to the agricultural and livestock sector. If the project succeeds in the General Council, the collective will see the global aid budget increased by 371,286 euros compared to that of this year 2024, reaching a global economic bag of 4 million euros.
“In just two years, if we compare the budget that was settled in 2023 and what the Government has budgeted for 2025, we have increased the direct resources allocated to the sector by almost 1.1 million euros, which is equivalent to 35 % more”, explained Casal. In this regard, the minister pointed out that “we will continue to help with small gestures that allow us to take big steps to publicize the work that the entire sector does”.
Minister Casal has detailed that the new resources will be distributed equitably and always rewarding the farms that do the best work. Thus, it is planned to extend the aid to the bonus to animal welfare to make it extensive to livestock farms of sheep and horses. In addition, aid will be created for the cultivation of trufa that is produced under the label ‘Trumfa de qualitat controlled d’Andorra’ and for the production of ‘Honey of controlled quality d’Andorra’. Casal has also explained that the aid intended for the cultivation of the vine for the production of wine under the distinctive ‘Vi de qualità controlado d’Andorra’ will be expanded.
With the new budget item, it is also planned to slightly increase the daily aid received by equine livestock and in particular mares of heavy breeds in the concept of traditional mountain livestock practices in order to better recognize the contribution that these animals make to pastoralism to the maintenance of the mountains. Finally, the minister has also announced that within the framework of these actions to support the primary sector, the quotas for the import of fodder and concentrated food will be eliminated in the next agricultural year. A long-claimed measure by the livestock sector, which despite not having a great economic impact penalized the sector both in terms of productivity and in economic terms because depending on the quantities imported, part of the aid could be deducted he had a right to perceive.
In this way, he pointed out that, once the Budget Bill is approved, it will be explained in detail what amounts and how this new economic distribution will be made, which this year is more focused on boosting the country’s agricultural activities and favor the diversification of the primary sector.