A cow, a goat, chickens… The contrast was very symbolic this Friday afternoon at the entrance to the ZI.Nord of Limoges, between the farming world and this mecca of automobile brands.
Automobiles are often used as examples to illustrate the type of goods that will benefit from Mercosur, the free trade agreement currently under negotiation between Europe and the countries of South America.
“No cattle for cars”
Around thirty farmers from the Confédération Paysanne were present, without creating any major disturbances, but causing a little chaos.
Filter dam, distribution of leaflets, flash in the pan at the roundabout…
The Confédération Paysanne wanted to stand out from other agricultural unions to convey its own message.
“We don’t want to exchange livestock for cars, nor food for goods and services. We are opposed to Mercosur. Farmers suffer from lack of income, prices are not commensurate with our work. 700,000 fewer farmers in 30 years, it is time to put agriculture back in the spotlight,” proclaims Philippe Babaudou, spokesperson for the union.
It's enough that farmers see astronomical quantities of food coming in from Latin America, in exchange for industrial products.
“Agriculture and food have no place in a free trade agreement. It’s enough that farmers are seeing astronomical quantities of food coming in from Latin America, in exchange for industrial products,” confirms Julien Roujolle, market gardener at Les Cars.
A different message from the FNSEA
The Confédération Paysanne has been fighting against free trade treaties for 25 years.
She denounces a FNSEA union “which has caused small family farms to disappear for the benefit of companies and very large farms, like what is done in Europe”, according to Philippe Babaudou.
Franck Jacquet
