A delegation from the Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP) attended the Chestnut Festival in Curral das Freiras this Saturday, where it heard concerns from farmers and questioned the regional government's optimism about chestnut production in Madeira.
In November 2025, the regional secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries, Nuno Maciel, announced that output should reach 120 tonnes. However, DREM data record only 63 tonnes that year, 57 tonnes or 47.5% below the forecast. Compared with 106 tonnes in 2023, the drop was 40.6%.
Miguel Ganança, JPP councillor in the Câmara de Lobos municipal council, says the government cannot present optimistic forecasts and then leave farmers without explanations. The JPP acknowledges the impact of fires, disease and climate change, but calls for restoring chestnut groves, supporting producers and delivering the promised equipment and irrigation aid.