This farmer from Bergeracois was walking young horses this Sunday morning when his phone started ringing : “I saw an 01, I said to myself that it was still advertising, I picked up anyway and I heard someone who said to me 'Hello Stéphane, it's Michel Barnier' [rires]”. A call that this plum grower will remember for a long time, while her testimony on suicide had moved the Prime Minister this Friday when he heard it for the France Bleu's special agricultural crisis day.
“My bank advisor”
For more than half an hour, she was able to talk about her farm, his difficulties and his vision of agriculture. “I was amazed by the simplicity and understanding of this person, explains Stéphane. He insisted on the aid that I personally needed, but we are not going to solve the agricultural crisis by solving my cash flow problems.” An exchange which nevertheless gives satisfaction to this 59-year-old woman who faces significant difficulties. “Calling us little people shows that there are still people who care about us.”
During this telephone exchange, the Prime Minister focused on details, notably Stéphane's link with his bank, Crédit Agricole. “What saddens me is that we had the impression that Crédit Agricole was less aware than the Prime Minister who called me as if he were my banking advisor”she adds.
Many farmers in great difficulty
The head of the executive promised the prunicultirce that he would get in touch with the prefecture of Dordogne pour take stock of your situation. “He told me that he was going to speak to the prefect about this situation, in fact, he told me ‘Ah yes, I have changed a lot of prefects these days’, I was touched by his attention”says Stéphane. “We are all on the verge of collapse”the farmer told him, who wanted to emphasize the fact that she was far from being the only one in this situation.
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