Portugal: another €10 million (≈ $11.2 million) for farms hit by wildfires

On October 30, Portugal's Ministry of Agriculture and the Sea announced new aid of €10 million (≈ $11.2 million) for farms damaged by rural wildfires between May 1 and October 15, 2026. It is the second tranche of the same size this year, aimed at parishes (freguesias) left out of the first application round. The aid is a non-repayable grant, the Portuguese government's portal reports.

Key figures

• €10M (≈ $11.2M)
• Damage over 30%
• Up to €400k (≈ $447k)
• First €10k (≈ $11k): 100%
• Insured: 80%
• Uninsured: 50%

What changed

The decision was formalized by an order (despacho) of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Sea. The first application round opened on August 27 and closed on October 27, 2026; the new money is for parishes that were not included in it. The list of parishes in the Norte, Centro, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Alentejo and Algarve regions is published as an annex to the ministry's statement. According to the ministry, the fires caused severe damage to permanent crops, infrastructure and farm equipment.

By the numbers

• New tranche: €10 million (≈ $11.2 million); together with the first one of the same size, €20 million (≈ $22.3 million) has been allocated this year.
• Fire period covered: May 1 to October 15, 2026.
• Eligible: farms that lost more than 30% of their production potential.
• Eligible investment: up to €400,000 (≈ $447,000).
• The first €10,000 (≈ $11,200) of eligible spending is covered at 100%; the rest at 80% for farmers with crop insurance and 50% for everyone else.

What is covered

Costs of restoring plantings, infrastructure and damaged equipment, plus specific work in olive groves and chestnut orchards: regeneration pruning, grafting, plant-protection treatments and fertilization.

What it means for buyers

If your farm in Portugal was hit by this season's fires, first check whether your parish (freguesia) is on the list attached to the ministry's decision: the new tranche is only for those left out of the first round. Equipment is named explicitly among the eligible costs. Crop insurance makes a big difference: on €100,000 (≈ $112,000) of spending, an insured farm receives €82,000 (≈ $92,000) and an uninsured one €55,000 (≈ $61,000).

Source: Government of Portugal, Ministry of Agriculture and the Sea