Anger of farmers: “The government must not forget us”, in Nîmes the mobilization is back in action

La mobilisation agricole reprend du service dans le Gard ce jeudi 28 mars 2024. Midi Libre – Mikaël Anisset

Like a sense of deja vu… Faced with an indifferent government, this Thursday morning, Gard farmers once again let their anger be heard.

The account is still not there… On February 2, farmers returned to their farms after days of unprecedented mobilization, revealing a deep agricultural malaise.

Believing that "too many announcements remain unclear" and awaiting responses concrete, this Thursday March 28, a new demonstration was organized in Nîmes.

The convoy left from La Calmette. Midi Libre – DR

15 tractors, 10 trucks and 50 farmers

On the sidelines of the congress organized by the National Federation of Farmers' Unions (FNSEA) in Dunkirk, and in the absence of David Sève, president of the FDSEA Gard and emblematic figure of the agricultural demonstrations at the beginning of the year, the farmers "have put back pressure". Departing from La Calmette, the agricultural convoy mobilized around fifty farmers, around fifteen tractors and a few trucks.

Around 8 o'clock, a first stop was planned at the Kennedy roundabout. "Two months ago , we were just on the highway, together. The government has reacted but we need rapid answers. We have public opinion on our side", underlined Romain Angelras, just elected head of the Young Farmers of Gard. "Now, let's wake up the DDTM (Departmental Directorate of Territories and the Sea, Editor's note)", allowed himself, mockingly, Anthony Bafoil, president of the Vignerons Gard cooperators.

Supervised by the police, the farmers dumped manure and garbage in front of the DDTM. Midi Libre – Mikaël Anisset

"We're going to set fire"

After dumping manure, spraying paint, and destroying a DDTM1 gate, the convoy headed at around 9 a.m. towards the Services and Payment Agency , the leading European payment organization for agricultural aid. There, a delegation of 6 farmers went to speak with the leaders of the ASP before returning… hellip; empty-handed. "They're not working today", says an operator ironically. As the rain begins to appear, the convoy finally leaves Boulevard Allende towards the Johanès Boubée trading company, a subsidiary of the Carrefour group, located in the Grézan business zone.

Romain Angelras: “it’s the black smoke of distress and anger” Midi Libre – Mikaël Anisset

"Out of 600 000 hectoliters of wine, a third comes from Spain. People have the right to buy Spanish wine but we are in such disarray today that it is difficult to accept, s& ;rsquo;is justified Anthony Bafoil. In front of the central purchasing gate, trucks and trailers continue to dump their containers one by one. Manure, bulky items, tires… "now we are going to set the fire !" If the period is complicated for operators who benefit from’ a significant volume of work within the farms, the mobilization continues. "The government must not forget us. We need a 'Marshall Plan' with real solutions put in place", concluded the president of the Vignerons coopacteurs du Gard. Faced with a large blaze now rising into the sky, local farmers are convinced: "not everyone can be saved.& quot;

1 Following the actions committed in front of the premises of the DDTM, Jérôme Bonnet, prefect of Gard, spoke about X. He strongly condemns these acts of vandalism and assures the agents of the ;State of his support. A complaint will be filed.