Written by Ophélie Masure
Rural Coordination is calling for a new mobilization in Paris on January 6, 2025. Tractors are blocked in the Paris region, but farmers remain determined. More than a year after the start of their mobilization, the operators believe that they do not make a decent living from their work. Discussion with the co-president of the Pas-de-Calais Rural Coordination on the way to the capital.
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The day promises to be long for Olivier Sénéchal. Very long. Farmer near Auxi-Le-Château and co-president of the Rural Coordination of Pas-de-Calais, he is on his way to Paris when he answers us. Between 150 and 200 tractors are stuck on the outskirts of the capital. “We decided to take the car to go to the center“, he tells us. “There are five cars from Pas-de-Calais“. No details on exact destination.”Big ears listen to us“, they laugh.
The only joke he allows himself. Because the operator above all wants to tell of his determination. “I got up at 3:30 a.m. to go around my chickens and collect the eggs. At night, we work on our farms. During the day, we fight to make a living from what we do “.
Olivier Sénéchal took over the family farm in 2018. Raising organic chickens and mixed farming. In six years, he has noticed a lot of changes: “Twelve standards have evolved and impact my profitability. Today, when I add it up, I work for 6 euros an hour! You know many who would accept that!“. At 39, the man has lost some illusions. He hoped to work for himself, to be freer. It is quite the opposite that he describes.
Olivier Sénéchal in his chicken farm near Auxi-Le-Château in Pas-de-Calais.
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© Olivier Sénéchal
Like so many other farmers, he started the fight a year ago. Despite the promises “on a bale of straw“, nothing has changed according to him. “Gabriel Attal spoke to us about an agricultural-cultural exception, we no longer hear about it”, he regrets.
However, the demands remain numerous… and sometimes technical. Starting with the question of the overtransposition of standards between France and the European Union. Certain French provisions go beyond what is provided for at European level, resulting in unfair competition between France and other European countries. “We want this to be removed immediately. No need to consult the Assembly for that”.
As he continues his journey towards the capital, Olivier Sénéchal feels “the pressure rising“. After a year of waiting without significant action, he says to himself “fully reassembled“. No question of waiting for a stable government or the agricultural show. He no longer has time. It is therefore to the Prime Minister that he intends to address directly.
His main message will be on remuneration. “We are not asking for bonuses, we are asking for income. We want to sell our products at the right price.” He details. “Moi, I would have to sell 2 euros for 100 eggs to get by, but Egalim contracts don't even cover production costs. There needs to be a fair distribution of value.”
Rural Coordination is also calling for more controls on imports. “The controls imposed on farms must be reoriented. Only 5% of imported products are controlled. The union is also calling for more transparency from the agri-food sector. “There is value creation in agricultural products by industrialists.”
Olivier Sénéchal recognizes this: his fight is eminently political. The operator calls for support from the French. “It's not just us that we're fighting for. We want to offer quality products“This evening, after Paris, he will return to his farm near Auxi-Le-Château.”We will have to finish the work“. Two rounds of breeding per day and that is immutable.
