Antonio Saraiva: "Portugal probably has some of the best distribution warehouses and sales points in Europe." Photo: ANIPLA

Antonio Saraiva, president of the Portuguese crop protection association, the ANIPLA, tells Robert Birkett of his hope for a growing and increasingly professional Portuguese agriculture sector becoming a boon for the pesticide business.

The Portuguese agrochemical market faces many of the same challenges as others in Europe. The availability of products is under threat from the planned revision of the EU agrochemical registration Directive (91/414). There are beneficial changes occurring, such as recent national regulations on the distribution of pesticides and the entry of foreign, professional farmers.

Portugal has attractive land prices and improving infrastructure, according to Antonio Saraiva, president of the Portuguese agrochemical industry association, the ANIPLA. Others changes are not so beneficial and the impact of all the changes will be felt by the crop protection industry, he tells Agrow.

The profile of farmers in Portugal has changed, Mr Saraiva notes. “There are more professional players in agriculture: big investment groups, people and companies from other European countries.” Farmers from across the border are increasingly attracted to Portugal.

“Spanish farmers and investors, who are seeking to expand their production capacities in areas such as olive oil, citrus fruits and vegetables, are finding the ideal place to expand just a few kilometres from their border,” Mr Saraiva explains. “Land is available at affordable prices, water for irrigation, a similar climate and a welcoming community.”

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The change has boosted the pesticide industry. “More consolidation at the farm level and the entry of new players has resulted in a more professional and competitive agriculture that seeks good profits and high-value produce and is thus [more] willing to invest in modern crop inputs, such as innovative crop protection products,” the ANIPLA chief explains. It has also caused a move from traditional to market-oriented farming and higher investment. That usually means better seeds, fertilisers and improved pesticides, he says.

Fields that were abandoned or had less professional farming for years have been reborn, he enthuses. “The most modern olive groves and citrus fruit can be found in the south of Portugal.”

The number of agricultural holdings has fallen by about 100,000 to 320,000. “All of that has come from farms of less than 20 ha.” The number of farmers has been reduced by the same number, while the number of farms of under 20 ha is down by half. The average holding area has almost doubled to nearly 12 ha, as result of consolidation, he adds.

Mr Saraiva complains that the Portuguese authorities failed to respond to the entry of Spanish olive farmers among others, not anticipating that it would stimulate national farmers to become more competitive. He desires improvement from the government with its “national strategic plan”, particularly for grapevines. “It is our most important crop and requires a clear strategy … and the potential to explore markets where original products normally obtain good results,” he says. He regrets that Portugal is not self-sufficient in olives, despite the large area grown and the favourable conditions for the crop.

The ANIPLA chief applauds legislation passed in 2005 governing agrochemical distributors. “Decree 173/2005 sets minimum standards on distributors, farmers (when applying products) and application companies”. It creates “responsible” technicians, such as graduates or those with pesticide product experience, and covers selling, use and distribution outlets. Due to the regulation, “Portugal probably has some of the best distribution warehouses and sales points in Europe.”

More agricultural land is to become available. The Alqueva dam in the Alentejo region in the south-east of the country “is already the biggest reservoir in Europe at 250 km2” and its irrigation infrastructure will be completed by 2015, Mr Saraiva notes. That will bring about an extra 115,000 ha of irrigated fields, doubling the irrigated area compared with the last decade, he adds. “Alentejo has been known for extensive farming and reduced investment in the past 30-40 years, [but the dam] will provide opportunities.”

The newly available land could be used for anything from olives to maize or other biofuel crops to golf courses, Mr Saraiva speculates. “[But] it will generate new business for the crop protection industry..."

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