At a press conference this Friday, the Chamber of Agriculture listed the problems in the sector. Files on which Annie Genevard, new Minister of Agriculture, will have to work.
« We expect a lot from the minister who has been put in place. If we do not have strong signals, we will no longer be responsible for the future », Launches Magali Saumade, president of the Chamber of Agriculture of Gard. As the harvest ends, winegrowers report a 40% drop in yield. “ In a normal year, it is more than 3 million hectoliters. There we will have 2.4 M », notes Jean-Louis Portal, secretary general of the Chamber, “ We have some 2023 stocks left, but market balance is going to be difficult to find. »
Magali Saumade announced that grubbing-up bonuses had been granted by the European Union: €120 million programmed for 30,000 hectares at national level. Will this envelope be enough? “ Certainly not. Gard alone makes the whole envelope », adds Jean-Louis Portal. The Chamber will soon have a finer projection of the possible volume to be extracted in the department. What about the future of these lands? “ We will work with all sectors concerning the future of land », continues the president, “ today, we do not yet have any studies on the sectors to promote instead of vines. Some crops do not need additional volume. We are not going to add crisis to crisis. »
On the livestock side, a health crisis arriving from Spain is affecting sheep and cattle with 2,000 cases of outbreaks in Occitania: BTF (Bluetongue), more commonly called bluetongue. “ Very few vaccines were made in 2023… In the Pyrénées-Orientales, they are losing up to 30% of their livestock », Notes Fanny Tamisier, assistant secretary specializing in livestock issues. A situation which may have an impact on the subsidies paid by the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy): “ given that they no longer have enough animals, they no longer meet the criteria ».
Concerning the slaughterhouse, “ the liquidation of Alès meat reduced the number of tonnages. The structure has been suspended from payment. She has six months to find a buyer. » The Chamber’s services are working with Safer to identify land to relaunch the slaughterhouse. “ People must regain confidence in the slaughterhouse, but also that communities can have authorization to enter into management by recognizing this tool as being of public utility. », underlines Magali Saumade. Gold, “ today, there is an inconsistency between the facts and the political discourse which praises short circuits and decarbonization plans. »
