“It would be stupid to have tractors at the gates of Paris for the Olympic Games”, warn Gard winegrowers

The discussions were chaired by Patrick Fresquet. FREE NOON – Eva Bonnet-Gonnet

The sub-prefect of Alès, Emile Soumbo, met with wine growers this Saturday, February 17, in the morning, at the Marsillargues-Attuech cooperative cellar, in the north of Gard, for an overview of the crisis wine.

In the hall of the Marsillargues-Attuech cooperative cellar, around ten wine growers gathered around Émile Soumbo, sub-prefect of Alès, who came to meet them this Saturday morning . Viticulture, and more specifically cooperative cellars, is in crisis, and their demands, mixed with those of farmers, have, according to them, not been heard. "There, we are at the end of the line […] In a catastrophic situation", agree the operators who were on site.

The clarifications of Emile Soumbo

Last June, however, regional, national and even European compensation measures were put in place to alleviate the precarious condition of cooperatives and wine growers, particularly regarding support for innovation, and the RSA. "At the request of the minister and the prefect, my presence today allows us to see how these measures are perceived, clarifies Émile Soumbo. The important thing will be to identify and report potential problems. I am trying to fully understand the issues."< /p>

Emile Soumbo went to meet the wine growers. FREE NOON – Eva Bonnet-Gonnet

"These are scoops that have been announced"

"But these are scoops that were announced. This is not what will save cooperatives. This is bullshit! You find it normal that farmers are offered to live on RSA ? While we should be able to live from our work ?", please ;rsquo;insurge Anthony Bafoil, president of the Lédignan cellar and the Gard agricultural cooperative. "One week before the Agricultural Show, we expect consideration; we are waiting for action. It would be stupid to have tractors at the gates of Paris during the Olympics."

Professional recognition

Among other things, wine growers are asking, "urgently", a cleaning up of the market to rebalance supply and demand, more financial aid solid, in the long term, but also recognition of the profession as an economic actor.
"Between the declining wine market and crop losses, we are in a double bind. Not to mention the costs which have tripled, and the fact that we are in a region with difficult, dry weather, and prone to heat waves", says another wine grower. Namely that in 2023, in certain cooperatives, only 50% of production was sold. "We are asking to be protected, because economically, this is not the case. is more tenable", evokes another.

Demands heard, and which will be reported, according to the sub-prefect, who then had an appointment, in the afternoon, in Saint-Maurice-de-Cazevieille.< /p> I subscribe to read more