The anger of the agricultural world is growing. The various unions in the sector are calling for mobilization and action starting next week. Among them, Rural Coordination promises strong actionspunchy actions. Rallies in front of prefectures from Tuesday 19, and blockades of “strategic points” the next day, Wednesday 20. In the Landes, this minority union, has been structured and expanded over the past few months. The number of members has increased tenfold since the start of the year, from 7 to 70. At its head since July: Vincent Coco, cattle breeder in Mauries, a small town of 85 inhabitants near Eugénie-les-Bains.
Broken promises
At 42, Vincent Coco is at the head of a cattle farm with around a hundred animals, Blondes d'Aquitaine. He took over the family business in 2010. But he is obliged to do another job, full time, at the same time. His job as a farmer is not enough for him to live with dignity. “My farm does not allow me to generate sufficient income, I also work full time in another company. The expenses are too high, the selling price of the livestock is insufficient to generate a decent income” he explains.
Last winter, Vincent Coco participated in the mobilization of farmers, on the Caloy toll, in Mont-de-Marsan. He came away disappointed. “There has been no progress. We have only had nice announcements, and nothing behind them. Now we no longer believe in announcements. We want action. Direct action with immediate effect.”
From 7 to 70 members
Since then, Vincent Coco has taken the head of Rural Coordination in the Landes, he became its president last July. Until now, the union has been discreet to say the least in the department. But since the start of the year, the union has become structured and expanded. The number of members has increased tenfold. Vincent Coco sees it above all as an expression of anger. An anger that he is afraid of not being able to contain: “many farmers are really in distress, financial, moral, psychological, because they are really at the bottom of the hole. Even farms that were previously viable find themselves in the red. And these farmers realize that they have nothing left to lose, so even if it means losing everything, we might as well go for it and smash everything. That's the most difficult parameter to take into account, we don't know each person's reaction, and we won't be able to. to control the distress that they have accumulated for months.”
Blockages of “strategic points”
Rural Coordination is therefore preparing to return to the front. With blockages of “strategic points”. Which ones? Impossible to know more at the moment. But the union is known for its “punch” actions. What Vincent Coco fully assumes: “Unfortunately, yes. When we see that when we seek dialogue, we are promised things that are not delivered, we realize that it is only by hitting hard that we are listened to. So yes, the country may be blocked, we'll see how it goes, but the government doesn't realize what's going to happen next week.
Rural Coordination 40 is calling for a rally in front of the prefecture in Mont-de-Marsan from Tuesday 19, then the next day, Wednesday 20, for actions on “strategic points” in the department.
