Farmers’ anger: Minister Marc Fenot says he ‘understands the vigilance’ of agricultural unions

Although the lockdowns have ended, agricultural unions are not ready to put pressure on the government. Agriculture Minister Mark Fesno said Wednesday at the RMC that he “understands the vigilance” of organizations with which the executive branch continues to dialogue, just days before the agricultural show. “It is normal that such anger is expressed and that we take these extraordinary measures. There is a moment of impatience, but we can’t say we haven’t made a significant effort,” he said.

Ten days after the farmers’ blockade was lifted following government announcements, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Marc Fesneau received FNSEA and Young Farmers (JA) representatives in Matignon on Tuesday. The President of the Republic will receive representatives of the Rural Coordination and the Peasant Confederation this Wednesday, before the FNSEA and JA next week, as before every agricultural exhibition that opens on February 24 in Paris.

“What awaits us before the show? A certain number of additional simplification measures, elements of which will be included in the legal texts of the law on agricultural orientation, which will be sent to the State Council during the Salon, as well as discussions in the Assembly and Senate, which should take place between now and June.” ,” said Mark Fesno. “The simplification measures must continue, I understand the vigilance of the trade unions,” he added.

“The crisis that comes from afar”

The minister, however, believes that the ongoing tensions are not only related to the current context. “This is a crisis that has come from afar and we are part of it, but when you have 25 years of procedures, sedimentation, over-administration, over-transposition, when you unravel it all and open the hood, obviously everything comes out,” he pleaded. .

As for the Agricultural Exhibition, to which all eyes are turned, “I’m not afraid of it,” he assured. “This is not just a meeting between the political world and farmers, it is a meeting between the French and farmers. We will be there, I will be there,” the minister said.

After two weeks of lockdown, farmers fled the camp in early February following three bursts of government announcements, including more than 400 million euros in emergency measures. But unions say the measures have been slow to implement and have no intention of easing pressure on sensitive issues such as administrative simplification, pesticide use or even plant breeding.

“Everything must be in place during the exhibition,” repeated Arnaud Rousseau, president of the influential FNSEA, as he left Matignon on Tuesday. As for Emmanuel Macron, “he won’t have to come to the Agricultural Exhibition with nothing but great speeches,” he warned earlier in the day. A few scattered actions have already resumed, such as the coup of independent milk producers who came to the Esplanade des Invalides in Paris on Tuesday morning with a few tractors, while about fifty sheep farmers gathered in front of Bercy.