Fire-Hit Farmers Across the Mainland Have Until 15 January to Apply for a Second 10 Million Euro Recovery Fund
Farms that lost over 30 percent of their output to fires between 1 May and 15 October can claim grants covering all of the first 10,000 euros of repairs. The new list covers parishes in about 175 municipalities, and applications close on 15 January.
Farmers whose land burnt between 1 May and 15 October 2026 can apply from today for a share of 10 million euros in non-repayable grants to replant, repair and re-equip. The Ministério da Agricultura e Mar (Ministry of Agriculture and Sea) announced the money on 30 October, and applications run until 17:00 on 15 January 2027.
This is the second fund of the same size this year. The first, opened on 27 August and closed on 27 October, covered only two large fires: one in the Centre between 2 and 7 July, and one in the North between 28 July and 2 August. The new one is for places that call left out.
Where it applies
A ministerial despacho (order) signed on 29 October declares the fires of 1 May to 15 October a natural catastrophe in a list of named parishes. The annex covers all five mainland regions, with parishes in about 175 municipalities: roughly 71 in the North, 39 in the Centre, 22 in Lisbon and the Tagus Valley, 35 in the Alentejo and 8 in the Algarve. Only farms inside a listed parish qualify, not the whole municipality. The list is attached to the government's announcement (in Portuguese).
The season was smaller than 2025's: the national firefighting force stood down its peak deployment on 30 September after 74,267 hectares had burnt. This round also covers fires after that date, up to 15 October.
Who qualifies and how much is paid
A farm must have lost more than 30 percent of its productive potential, confirmed by the regional Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional (Regional Coordination and Development Commission, CCDR), and the investment can be up to 400,000 euros. Eligible costs include buildings, machinery, greenhouses, replacement animals and replanting. For chestnut groves and olive groves, regeneration pruning, grafting, plant treatments and fertiliser also count. Spending from 1 May 2026 is eligible, so work already paid for can be claimed.
The grant is tiered:
- 100 percent of the first 10,000 euros of eligible spending;
- 80 percent of the rest for farmers with crop insurance under the state agricultural insurance scheme;
- 50 percent of the rest for everyone else.
On 50,000 euros of eligible repairs, that works out at 42,000 euros for an insured farmer and 30,000 euros for an uninsured one. Any insurance payout is deducted, and if claims exceed 10 million euros, every award is cut in proportion.
How to apply
Applications go through the Balcão dos Fundos para a Agricultura (Farm Funds Desk) at fundosparaagricultura.pt, under intervention C.4.1.3 of the EU-funded CAP Strategic Plan. Before filling in the form, a farmer must be registered with IFAP (the farm payments agency) with an up-to-date beneficiary record, and must map the damaged areas as investment plots in the parcel system, with geotagged photos taken through the IFAP Mobile app. Three supplier quotes are needed for every item, including work already done.
A loss declaration must also reach the CCDR, with the application or by the deadline. Each farmer may file only one application. Those who applied in the first round can apply again, but not for the same investments. The CCDR has 30 days after the window closes to check the claimed damage, often by a site visit.
This sits alongside other farm aid this autumn, including the 30 million euros of EU money for farms hit by Storm Kristin. Rules and the parish list are on pepacc.pt; the despacho itself has not yet appeared in the Diário da República.
