At the call of the FNSEA and Young Farmers, more than 80 tractors converged on Périgueux on Monday. But there is no question of blocking traffic. “We want to have public opinion with us,” assumes a union leader.
The sausages on “the fire of anger”. As night and cold have just fallen on the central square of Périgueux, in Dordogne, more than a hundred people are warming themselves around the sheet metal barbecues installed by the National Federation of Farmers' Unions (FNSEA) and the Young Farmers (JA), Monday November 18. As in several dozen prefectures in France at the same time, the two unions carried out such actions to express their opposition to the proposed free trade agreement with the Mercosur countries.
But in the heart of Périgord, the farmers wanted to add their little touch, with local meat offered to everyone. “We are changing our operating mode”explains Guillaume Testut, president of the department’s Young Farmers union.
There is no question of blocking roads or damaging administrative buildings, as was the case during the demonstrations at the beginning of the year. “We didn’t want to dump more trash in front of the prefecture”assures the young breeder of blondes from Aquitaine, wrapped up in his sleeveless red down jacket. The building that houses the prefect is only a few meters away, but no one tries to approach. “We want to have public opinion with us”he slips, smiling.
From mid-afternoon, dozens of farmers from across the department converged, on tractors, towards five rallying points located on the outskirts of Périgueux. “The goal today is to make the general public aware that there is a risk in the products that will be imported with Mercosur”explains Nicolas Lagarde, head of the beef sector of the departmental section of the FNSEA. The message has also been hammered for several weeks on the town signs of the surrounding municipalities, covered and tagged with the slogan “No to Mercosur”.
This time, farmers and breeders want to contact residents directly. “That’s why we’re doing an action in the city center, with a barbecue and leaflets”assures the Red Label beef breeder. “We are not here to annoy the population, but I am not sure that the consumer realizes the danger”he worries, while waiting in the parking lot of the Champcevinel aquatic center.
When the green light is finally given, all of the mobilized farmers take the road to reach the small streets of the historic center of Périgueux. Tractor speed is moderate, but traffic is not stopped as workers and students return home. Supervised by police officers on motorcycles, the dozens of agricultural vehicles park in a line so as not to paralyze the roundabout, where the unions have called for a rally.
“We’re clearing things up this evening!” says a union representative, perched on a tractor. The slogan is unanimous among the ranks of farmers: “We are back because the population needs us.” Coming with his wife and children, all wearing the green hat of the FNSEA, Vincent Durand is delighted “of this moment of conviviality”too rare among farmers. “I don’t know half the people here.”assures the 44-year-old cereal farmer, all smiles. In small groups, discussions on the difficulties encountered on the farms are going well.
The same appeal to the population resonates through all conversations: “Buy French!” A no-brainer for Anthony Fanet, calf breeder. “They applaud, they honk their horns, but we also have to play the game by buying local”demands the thirty-year-old. If some are annoyed by those “who put 1,500 euros into a smartphone”, but refuse to add “a few euros to buy quality meat”most want to believe that a surge is still possible.
“Everyone can do something at their own level! Eat less meat, but eat better!”
Anthony Fanet, calf breederat franceinfo
However, dialogue between farmers and residents is far from being re-established. If the entire population was invited to this great banquet, there were few who did not come from the agricultural world that evening. The high flames have brought together a few groups of young city dwellers who film the blaze and broadcast it on social networks, but they remain away from the other teenagers who came in boots from the family farm.
A few onlookers still end up approaching, in silence. “I support their movement, they are the ones who feed France”slips Chantal discreetly. This retired educator tries to follow as best as possible the demands of farmers to consume locally. “We must buy directly from small producers”she admits, before adding: “But when you have a family and heating to pay, I understand that some people have to sacrifice things…”
