South Channel farmers say “No” to Mercorsur

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It was from 9 p.m., this Monday, November 18, 2024, that around twenty farmers from the Departmental Federation of Agricultural Operators (FDSEA) and Young Farmers began their tour of the municipalities of the south of the Channel.

Last week, the Rural Coordination had covered radars against this trade treaty with the countries of South America and to remind the State that nothing has changed since the demonstrations at the beginning of the year.

For several hours, they covered the entrance signs to the towns of Virey, Saint-Clément-Rancoudray, Le Neufbourg and others around Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët, Isigny-le-Buat and Mortain-Bocage. They also intervened at the Sourdeval market.

Tarpaulins express their refusal of this Free Trade Treaty which should be signed, during the current G20 summit, with South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), Mercosur.

“It’s the death of our territories and our farmers”

An agreement that they consider deadly for French farms. “We express our refusal of this agreement. It’s a good way to make yourself heard, without any hesitation or disruption.” Sabrina Orain, a poultry breeder for ten years with her husband and a full-time employee in Isigny-le-Buat, was present.

We fear a glut of products from agriculture with less restrictive standards than ours.”

The forty-year-old, who has already experienced many changes in her profession, says she is already faced with unequal competition from Eastern European countries. “It’s unfair competition for our agriculture. It is the death of our territories and our farmers. Today, they restrict us, they impose standards on us and not to grow and, besides that, we are ready to accept that others come to the market with prices driven down. Today, politics and Europe are in charge. We are exhausted from all this. We see people arrested before retirement. However, when you are a farmer, it is for life. We feed people, we do a great job. We must think, move forward all the time so as not to be eaten up by evolution.”

And the farmer cites animal welfare, the carbon footprint, the rise in the price of electricity… “We have to adapt and behind that, we have to sell… This agreement will impact our production costs. The more competition there is, the more prices will be driven down. In France, demand is demanding. Quality will become niche, not for everyone. It's complicated. Today we no longer have days to hold up signs. This action is symbolic.”

Other actions around Avranches

Nicolas Boulé, the deputy general secretary of the agricultural union, is organizing another operation to cover town entrance signs around Avranches and Sartilly-Baie-Bocage for this Tuesday evening, November 19, 2024. “We created a range to knowledge which should have simplified administrative procedures, everyone agrees to simplify, but nothing is done. Administrative regulations, cleaning of waterways, maintenance of hedges… We never end it.” A cleaning operation took place in the presence of the prefect in Cotentin, the farmers hope to have been heard. In which case, other actions will be expected.

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