Regional Government establishes rural development support scheme under PEPAC

Ordinance no. 276/2026 has been published, establishing the application regime for Intervention F.7.1 of the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (PEPAC) for the Autonomous Region of Madeira. This legislation aims to support local development strategies (LDS) in rural areas, covering various types of investment.

Areas of intervention and beneficiaries

The support is intended for territories managed by two Local Action Groups (LAGs):

• ACAPORAMA: Municipalities of Câmara de Lobos, Machico, Santa Cruz, and Porto Santo.
• ADRAMA: Municipalities of Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol, Calheta, Porto Moniz, São Vicente, and Santana.

The types of support include:

• F.3.1.1: Support for SMEs and micro-enterprises in rural areas (diversification, tourism, business creation).
• F.3.1.2: Basic services for the rural population (social support, heritage, digitalization).
• F.3.1.3: Renewable energy, bioeconomy, and circularity.
• F.3.1.4: Cooperation for local development.
• F.3.1.5: Training and information for local development agents.

The support is granted in the form of a non-repayable grant, with 85% co-financing from EAFRD and 15% from the regional budget. Support rates vary between 30% and 80%, depending on the type of operation.