“I don’t even want to think about closing”: farmers’ uncertainty about the slaughterhouse

Simon Le Berre (right) and other farmers share their fears with elected officials. Midi Libre – LUCAS MASSOT

This Thursday, September 19, representatives of the Confédération Paysanne invited elected officials to Massillargues-Attuech, to the home of farmer Tom Rampazzi. The opportunity, among other things, to discuss their fears about the Alès slaughterhouse.

“The closure, I don't even want to think about it”,castigates Tom Rampazzi. The breeder and farmer from Massillargues was accompanied by other producers from Gard this Thursday, September 19, on his farm in Massillargues-Attuech to present to local elected officials their fears regarding the uncertainty presented by the situation of the Alès slaughterhouse. It must be said that since March 2024, the latter has been in a precarious situation of receivership.

Regarding Le Vigan, “everything is blocked”

The deadline is fast approaching but the situation remains unclear: “The slaughterhouse cannot continue where it is, the tool must be renovated and expanded”, adds Didier Marion, himself a draft horse breeder and poultry. "The problem is at the national level", regret the representatives of the Peasant Confederation. "The Saint-Affrique slaughterhouse (Aveyron) has been placed in receivership. If the one in Alès closes in turn, then we will have to go further. In Hérault or Ardèche ? It is inconceivable !". "And the one in Vigan ?", asks Geneviève Blanc, mayor of Anduze who came to hear the Conf' speak. "Le Vigan ? Everything is blocked. Even they have trouble running the slaughterhouse”, laments Didier Marion.

“We need a slaughterhouse at the local level”

Because this story raises many questions: what about travel costs ? And even animal welfare ? “I am autonomous", says Tom Rampazzi. I produce my seeds on site. I live from selling my meat and wheat. It's organic here; I try to ensure the best quality."

Turning to new habits

In short, what the breeders came to present was the desire to turn to new modes of consumption and organization that they want to be more "resilient" in a world that is changing rapidly. “We can no longer make this productive way of operating coexist, we need a local slaughterhouse, even if it is smaller. The big companies are moving elsewhere, but we are still here!”, they remind us.

Faced with the uncertainty, faced with the uncertainty of having to work more and more and further away, the breeders remind us: “If nothing changes, we will lose a lot of people along the way.”

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