The leader of PS-Madeira, Célia Pessegueiro, called for the chestnut processing centre in Curral das Freiras to operate at full capacity, in order to make better use of the product and add value to it.
During the Chestnut Festival, she spoke with producers, who must handle picking, drying and packaging themselves because the sterilisation section is not running. Sterilisation is considered essential to fight the chestnut pest and extend shelf life.
The party also demands that the Regional Government finally build a second road into the parish. Residents fear isolation if rockfalls block the only access, and worry that a planned cable car to Jardim da Serra could delay the road again.