The president of PS Madeira, Célia Pessegueiro, has voiced concern over the progressive abandonment of viticulture in the region, denouncing the Regional Government's lack of commitment to the agricultural sector.
According to Pessegueiro, small producers are giving up cultivation due to rising production costs and insufficient remuneration for grape varieties like Tinta Negra, compounded by bureaucracy in accessing support. Grape production saw a 35% drop in 2024 and 2025, according to official data.
PS-M proposes that tourism tax revenue be directed towards compensating farmers for landscape maintenance and suggests that Madeira Wine producers purchase crops in advance, sharing risks and offering technical support. The lack of investment in rural accessibility, such as the connection between Jardim da Serra and Curral das Freiras, was also criticized, with the party demanding the immediate launch of public tenders for the works.
