Angry farmers: a new mobilization planned for this Monday in France

The government tried this week to reassure farmers in difficulty, while a new cycle of mobilization of the sector which will begin on Monday. “I will do everything I can” et “all the promises made to the farmers who demonstrated at the start of the year will be respected”assured Prime Minister Michel Barnier on the local radio network France Bleu, on the sidelines of the Assises des Départements in Angers.

This outing comes while Young Farmers and the FNSEA “ask the government that these measures be implemented urgently at local level” et “continue to request specific support via the FAC” (burden relief fund). The challenge: better assess the most complex situations and support them in a more supportive manner.

Mobilizations all over France

Less than a year after an unprecedented movement of anger in the countryside, which led in January to blockages of sections of highways in the country, the main agricultural unions are calling on their troops to demonstrate again. The unions have planned mobilizations across almost the entire territory. Demonstrations which will essentially be triggered from this Monday.

Affected by poor harvests and emerging animal diseases, farmers believe that they have still not reaped the benefits of last winter's mobilization. And regret that the implementation of the 70 commitments made by the Attal government was slowed down by the dissolution of the National Assembly.

Anxious to avoid fueling discontent, the head of government reiterated his opposition to the trade agreement between the European Union and the Latin American countries of Mercosur, while Emmanuel Macron intends to plead from Saturday in America Latin against the possible upcoming signing of this controversial free trade agreement particularly feared by French farmers. For its part, the Ministry of Agriculture clarified the terms of subsidized loans, a pressing request from trade union organizations. They welcomed these measures while demanding their implementation “urgent”.

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Two systems will be put in place: they will take the form of loans distributed by banks wishing to participate. According to the ministry, a first system is designed to deal with economic difficulties (climatic or health hazards), via medium-term loans capped at 50,000 euros per farm. Farmers who have lost at least 20% of their turnover in 2024 compared to their historical reference average will be eligible.

A second system will concern “more structural difficulties due, for example, to the impact of climate change”. It will be a question of “long-term consolidation loans (maximum 12 years)”granted by banking establishments and backed by a public guarantee deployed by Bpifrance. “Thanks to this exceptional effort by the State and the banks, the farmers most in difficulty will be able to overcome financial situations which, without it, could have turned out to be dramatic”reacted Minister Annie Genevard. The government press release which details these measures does not specify the cost for public finances.