“We will provide support to those farms that have suffered losses of over 30%, both to restore production capacity and to improve income,” José Manuel Fernandes told journalists during a visit to strawberry fields in Torres Vedras, Lisbon district.

Farmers who have losses of up to five thousand euros will receive 100% support, those between 5 thousand euros and 50 thousand euros will receive 85% support, and those whose losses are between 50 thousand euros and 400 thousand euros will receive 50%.

After the conclusion of the survey phase and having analysed all cases, the Minister of Agriculture admitted also moving forward with “some support credit line or some State aid for those that do not reach 30%”.

The minister said that the support will cover “the affected sectors”, adding that the most affected were strawberry farms.

“My perception is that they fall within the 30% loss on some of the farms,” he said.

José Manuel Fernandes indicated that the opening of the notices for applications will take place “in one to two weeks”, after carrying out a survey of losses by the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions (CCDR).

“We are going to issue a warning for the entire continent, not just for this region,” he added.

“We will be quick, as people also register on the [CCDR] platform, we don’t want to leave anyone out,” he assured.

The governor encouraged farmers to declare their losses on the CCDR online platform.

In the West region, he added, the Ministry of Agriculture has received, to date, 27 requests for aid worth 2.5 million euros.

The passage of depression Martinho, with strong rain, wind and sea agitation, caused thousands of incidents on the Portuguese mainland, mostly falling trees and structures, especially in the early hours of Thursday last week, when orange weather warnings were in effect, the second most serious level.