Under pouring rain, around thirty Corsican farmers gathered in front of the Bastia prefecture to say no to the free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. This treaty, which provides for the opening of European markets to South American agricultural products, is causing great concern on the island. Already faced with competition from continental meats, island farmers fear a worsening of their situation faced with the arrival of low-priced imported products.
For Joseph Colombani, president of the FDSEA of Haute-Corse, this fight goes beyond the simple economic question: “We are gradually condemning local production, essential to our autonomy and the survival of our rural territories. Here, only 4% of what is consumed is produced locally. We must reverse the trend. »
Corsican agriculture relies on small-scale models, often fragile, but essential for maintaining life in villages and preserving landscapes. “Local production means employment and wealth here, but also a response to global environmental issues,” says Joseph Colombani.
Faced with increased competition, island breeders also point out the limits of institutional support. Aid from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), essential for many farms, is considered insufficient or poorly distributed. Some farmers have been waiting for years for payments that have been validated by administrative controls. An untenable situation for small, already weakened farms.
Specificities ignored
Despite the low participation due to an orange alert in progress, the mobilization bore fruit. A delegation of seven farmers was received by the prefect of Haute-Corse, addressing issues specific to the island. Among them: the insufficiency of agricultural aid, specific health challenges and the need to adapt European policies to island realities.
The meeting also highlighted health challenges specific to Corsica. Farmers denounce the ban on certain biological auxiliaries although authorized on the continent, complicating the fight against local scourges such as the leafhopper, a vector of plant diseases. Managing bluetongue, an animal disease that seriously affects herds, is also a source of frustration. “The funds allocated by the State for the fight against this disease do not sufficiently take into account island realities,” deplores Joseph Colombani.
A necessary awareness
Despite the lack of immediate concrete answers, Corsican farmers are not giving up. The mobilization made it possible to lay the foundations for a strengthened dialogue with the authorities. A meeting with the Minister of Agriculture is planned for December 4, offering new hope to highlight the island's specificities. “If nothing is done, an entire agricultural model will disappear, with deserted villages and abandoned landscapes,”concludes Joseph Colombani.
