After the announcements of the wine emergency plan: “It’s the glass half full”

Yvan Rojas, viticulteur à Gigean, était mobilisé vendredi 26 janvier sur le mouvement de colère. DR

Yvan Rojas, viticulteur à Gigean réagit aux annonces gouvernementales d'un plan d'aide d'urgences aux viticulteurs en particulier en Occitanie. 

Mobilized since last week, Yvan Rojas, a wine grower based in Gigean, member of FDSEA 34, learned through the press of the emergency aid plan deployed by the State, particularly for Occitanie winegrowers. "There has been progress, we will say that it’s the glass half full. There are no more calls for demonstrations but we will have to keep the promises that have been made,” he reacted when asked by us. The Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau, in fact, specified this Wednesday, January 31, the release of 80 M€ public aid for French wine-growing areas in crisis, under the responsibility of the prefects. Aid on request, to the aid of those whose treasuries are drained, particularly following contamination with mildew or due to drought or frost.
"The State should cover the interest on credits and would release, as during Covid, loans guaranteed by the State. This doesn't really suit us because we'll have to pay it back anyway. " In addition, a vast grubbing plan has been announced (up to 100,000 ha) with a compensation envelope set at 150 M€ in total. "Those who want to stop will be able to leave with dignity. Young people will be able to change crops or replant in five years, approves the Hérault winemaker. We also had to do something about overproduction, to be able to sell our wine. "

The points that always annoy

But there are still points of concern: "They said nothing about environmental measures. The increase in the RPD tax on diffuse pollution and the carbon balance compensation measures for exports." Yvan Rojas regrets that there is no’ rsquo;announcement about the water problem. "They didn’not talk about water retention at all because here, the drought is much more serious than in the Paris region. If there is no more water, we will disappear." Demands that farmers will be able to continue to make this Friday, February 2 during the announced visit to the department of the Minister of Agriculture, Marc Fesneau.

Also read: "Finally measures that go in the right direction" : Jérôme Despey welcomes the announcements from the Minister of Agriculture

I subscribe to read more