It’s a call that hasn’t gone unnoticed. The FNSEA, the main agricultural union in France, has called on its members to demonstrate throughout France starting this Monday, November 18. FNSEA which said it wanted to protest against the signing of the Mercosur treaty. An agreement between the European Union and the countries of South America, which would be disastrous for French cattle breeders according to the agricultural union. But the movement could be much less impactful than the one which almost paralyzed France at the start of the year.
Bad timing
In any case, in Maine-et-Loire, mobilization risks being quite limited, because farmers are overwhelmed with work at the moment. “ We have planned something quite simple for Wednesday, November 20 » tells us Vincent Colineau, milk producer in St Georges sur Loire and secretary general of the Young Farmers of Maine-et-Loire.
At the moment, everyone is busy harvesting and planting. On Wednesday, we plan to put a tarpaulin on the Verdun bridge in Angers to say stop to Mercosur, but it will be very symbolic, and then we will notify then.
For the farmer, the sector is in any case not yet listened to enough despite the government's promises in recent months.
On the side of the peasant confederation 49, same story
Rarely of the same opinion as their colleague from the FNSEA, the Confédération paysanne 49 is, this time, almost on the same line. The Mercosur agreement is not really popular. Tiphaine Joly, farmer in Bourg-d'Iré, spokesperson for the movement in Maine-et-Loire, still remains surprised by this national position taken by the majority union.
Why has the FNSEA decided to suddenly mobilize on this subject? Is this really to mean the end of free trade agreements, to protect French farms and then French agriculture? I hear that there would be a massive import of ethanol and biofuels from South America. I don't think it would suit the business of the Avril group led by Arnaud Rousseau, president of the FNSEA.
The peasant confederation of Maine-et-Loire which has not yet decided whether it will take part in the movement in a concrete way. A choice which will be discussed next week between members according to Tiphaine Joly.
