the essential
For some local businesses, the farmers' blockades at the Spanish border are not without financial consequences. Here is the testimony of a transport specialist who transports cereals from Occitania to Spain. He believes he is “taken hostage”.
“In January and February, we had already had to stop our activity due to the angry movement of the farmers. We had lost turnover, but we had to continue to pay the drivers!” This business leader from Aude, whose main activity consists of transporting cereals from the department, the Toulouse region and all of Occitania to Spanish farms, is disappointed. In question, the resumption of the mobilization of farmers and dams like this Tuesday, November 19 in Boulou, on the agricultural border.
“According to information from the unions, the farmers' roadblocks at the Spanish border are filtering. However, the reality is that they are blocking: our trucks cannot cross the border and we have 6 to 7 per day making the journey Each one transports 30 tonnes of wheat, sorghum, corn, etc. to feed livestock on Spanish farms. On the way back, we transport mineral materials such as sand or lime for professionals who carry them out. facade coatings, water filtration… So indirectly, other French companies are also penalized.”
Trucks stopped to avoid being blocked at the border
Yesterday, the Aude entrepreneur counted “nine trucks stuck on the roads. We stopped others so that they don't get stuck at the Spanish border. To compensate for this loss of activity and avoid being at a complete standstill, we are trying to advance deliveries to customers or even take on other missions that we are not necessarily used to carrying out. Therefore, “We feel like prisoners every time there is a demonstration. We understand the farmers' anger. But their action hurts other French and local businesses. However, we also support families.”
During the first farmers' movement at the start of the year, “we lost €100,000 in turnover and at least €20,000 in additional costs with driver salaries, travel costs…”. Now, “If we announce the lifting of the blockades, we don't really know how long the protesters' action will last. This may not endanger the company at the moment, but it will be a complicated year. And if we do not have a good balance sheet, we will have to explain it to the banker With serious consequences on the economic and human level.
