Spain: Blueberries and kiwis to receive half of European aid

After more than a year without granting one, the rural development group Bajo Nalón (Pravia, Soto del Barco and Muros de Nalón) has put an aid program in motion with an allocation of over 400,000 Euro. More than half of the production subsidies, around 190,000 Euro, will go to the blueberry and kiwi plantations of the region. The main lines of action will be defined in various meetings to be held in the following months.

These production subsidies will create six new jobs and keep twelve others. To continue supporting the investors, the board of directors will be asking the Council of Agriculture and Livestock to transfer more funds to local plantations, "given the prospects we have regarding applications," explains Juan Antonio Lázaro, manager of the Rural Development Group Bajo Nalón.

Non-productive funding is also being granted to other projects, such as the adaptability of the region's recreational areas and the rehabilitation of schools in Corias.

During the meeting, attended by the director of the Principality's Rural Resources, Tomasa Arce, it was also agreed that local councils should begin transferring some public investment into the private sector in order to create more jobs. Arce highlighted from Bajo Nalón "the high number of projects, five times that of the local councils." She also stated that "rural development groups are the best instrument to restore the wealth balance between rural and urban areas." The leader insisted on "the confidence that Bajo Nalón inspires," as no project will be left unattended.

Source: lNE