“I don’t pay myself yet”: in Villeveyrac, Emile Dorques’ difficulties in making a living from organic farming

The market gardener sows his potatoes using a technique learned from his elders. Free Midi – Baptiste Ansé

Emile Dorques and his dog Limbo. Free Midi – Baptiste Ansé

The greenhouse will see summer fruits such as tomatoes, zucchini, etc. grow. Free Midi – Baptiste Ansé

As spring arrives, market gardeners begin to sow seasonal vegetables such as potatoes, turnips and parsnips. Focus in Villeveyrac on Emile Dorques, a young producer perseveres in organic despite the difficulties.

Spring is coming, and so are mild temperatures. Accompanied by his border collie, Limbo, the young market gardener, Emile Dorques, begins to plant potatoes in his field in Villeveyrac. On his hectare of arable land, the equivalent of eight Olympic swimming pools, the 33-year-old man also sows salads, summer vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, etc.) throughout the year. ) and apricot trees. Established since 2020 on smaller lands, the farmer with the dreadlocks has not yet been able to make a living from his profession.

Personal and financial investments

His calm and peaceful temperament seems paradoxical in the face of the situation. "I don't pay myself yet, he declares. Within a year or two, it will be good." The Villeveyrac market gardener reassures himself by thinking of the support of his salaried partner and the fact that they are not starving thanks to his production "which partly feeds them ".

Standing to the rhythm of the sun, his job requires a lot of personal and financial investment. Last year was a key step for his career. His uncle, Denis Dorques, sold him his agricultural land. Exploitation at once multiplied by four.

The land cultivated organically by the former owner is still cultivated by Emile, who is keen to keep this approach healthy for the land and the health of consumers. This nevertheless increases the costs of the thirty-year-old, since he has to pay for the analysis of his land and the inspector to label it. "It’is at least 400 € and it increases depending on the size." In addition, the profession is suffering from trends, since for the past two years, organic seems to be less appealing to the French.

"From the Bio team"

The ecological fiber remains in Emile, in particular thanks to his career. Trained at INRA (National Institute of Agronomic Research), he basically took over the land abandoned by his winegrower grandfather. Today, it is proud to be between the plains of Villeveyrac, "a soil that is not dry thanks to the surrounding lakes".

The return of the organic fruit and vegetable vending machine to Villeveyrac ?

The organic fruit and vegetable vending machine could see the light of day again this summer. &agrav; Villeveyrac. This is one of the next challenges for the young market gardener. After taking over his cousin's lands, Emile Dorques also recovered the land. his machine. Available 24 hours a day, the machine's twenty lockers will offer à new seasonal fruits, salads, cucumbers and many more, every day. Thus, the farmer will be able to satisfy his supreme objective, to feed the gourmands and any time.

Then, because Emile considers himself "of the Bio team", he" nbsp;depends on few inputs, which stabilizes its economic model. On his land, everything is natural, like his fertilizers or the white clay from the apricot trees which will create a physical barrier on the tree. Observing it, it’s a journey through time. Without a machine, Emile plants his potatoes on soil nourished by crushed grass cut later. Using a pipe modified by hand but suitable, he slides the sprouts onto the earth which will then cover them.

If a friend asks him if he is happy in his job despite the difficulties, Emile replies that he "will not be bored never in this essential profession. It’is an evolving profession, you often make mistakes but you see yourself constantly progressing."

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