Anger of farmers: a delegation from Tarn-et-Garonne received by Minister Annie Genevard

This is rare enough to be noted. Last Thursday, a 100% Tarn-et-Garonne delegation was received by the Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard, in Paris. Alongside the prefect and the two senators, Benjamin Checchin, Jean-Baptiste Gibert (Young Farmers), Damien Garrigues and Jean-Philippe Viguié (FDSEA) presented very local issues. Always accompanied by pragmatic solutions and measures. As vice-president of FDSEA 82, Jean-Philippe Viguié agreed to debrief this “effective” exchange which he hopes will lead to “concrete answers”.

On the front of seasonal employmentthe JA and the FDSEA denounced the recruitment difficulties which are also synonymous with a shortfall in terms of the contribution of Agefiph, the association which defends the hiring of people with disabilities. “However, it is already complicated to find able-bodied employees. And the actions of certain labor providers almost amount to human trafficking. But in the end, it is the operator that we turn to because very often, these service providers are not solvent. We need more structured, more regulated practices.”

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Level cashthe unions are asking the State for interest coverage and guarantees to be advanced in order to request bank loans for the farmers most in difficulty. “A bandage on a wooden leg which at least has the merit of allowing it to get through the winter,” concedes No. 2 of FDSEA 82, which obtained an agreement in principle. This should be effective these days.

Hazelnut producers from Lot-et-Garonne and Tarn-et-Garonne received these days

To counter the health crises Triggered by bluetongue (BFT) and epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) stereotypes 3 and 8, the focus should be on vaccines. Especially since “the department was somewhat excluded from the aid measures allocated following the MHE episode last winter”. “This allowed us to discuss the lack of fairness in property tax relief. For cereal growers, it is calculated on the loss of yield and for breeders, on the number of dead animals. But we know that certain diseases impact fertility and therefore, the number of births in particular. We need more equitable treatment,” notes Jean-Philippe Viguié.

Defending themselves from wanting to use “phytos at all costs”, the unions particularly insisted on “ sectors without solution “. Like the hazelnut eaten away by the attacks of the evil bug and the balanin which feast on the rainfall. “But France now bans neonicotinoids even though this molecule is authorized elsewhere. So, as with apples, we will find ourselves importing products treated with what is prohibited here,” regrets the trade unionist. “The minister is committed to receiving the hazelnut producers of Lot-et-Garonne and Tarn-et-Garonne very soon,” continues Jean-Philippe Viguié who did not forget to highlight “the distress” of his counterparts in the organic sector.

Finally, access to water was of course addressed, particularly from the prism of the antifreeze needs of the arboricultural sector. “The minister understands the issues and we see that she has gone into the field. Like our prefect, she wants to move forward in the right direction and we feel that they understand the problems. We are also one of the rare departments that she received because we are diverse and suffering, she told us. But Annie Genevard is also the third minister we meet and we don't have any more time. People are desperate and we ourselves are exhausted. While half of us will be retiring in the coming years, we want to encourage people to settle down and convey the image of the happy farmer. »