The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Luís Capoulas Santos, said that “it may be possible to begin distributing food from Wednesday [October 25]” on the farms affected by the fires on 15th and 16th October in the North and Center of the Country.

These statements were made in Vila Nova de Poiares, after a meeting with local authorities and representatives of farmers in the municipalities affected by the fires, where the Minister of Planning and Infrastructure Pedro Marques was also present.

“Farmers have stored animal feed, but unfortunately the fires have destroyed those reserves, and that is why emergency solutions will be used to replace them,” said the minister, adding that five platforms will be set up for that purpose in Monção, Tondela, Vagos, Vila Nova de Poiares and Gouveia.

Luís Capoulas Santos also recalled: “We are in an extremely dry year, where the shortage of food was already very high, and part of the winter reserves were already being consumed. Now this tragedy has destroyed the rest and the pastures. ”

“There is a great desire on the part of all to work together as quickly as possible to relieve suffering and to revive not only hope but also life and the economy,” concluded the Minister, The aim of the meeting was to coordinate the logistics necessary to implement measures to support farmers, such as support for animal feed.