“The farmers’ movement illustrates a feeling of despair,” says Minister Marc Fesneau to Midi Libre

Marc Fesneau, en novembre dernier, à Montpellier. MAXPPP – JEAN MICHEL MART

The Minister of Agriculture responds to Midi Libre as the farmers' movement begins a new day of mobilization.

The farmers' movement is gaining momentum in Occitanie, the blocking of the A64 is one of the symbols of the protest . What do you think it translates ?

It illustrates a feeling of despair. The situation on the A64 reveals the feeling shared by many farmers, this impression of being downgraded, of incomprehension of society, the idea of ​​being at the mercy of contradictory injunctions at European and national level. Added to this, particularly in your region, are the dramatic effects of global warming on crops, water problems, crises in viticulture, the consequences of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD)… Constraints that we must take into account to provide concrete solutions.

Constraints that you will not lift immediately. Isn't it time to tell the farmers that you won't solve all the problems right away ?

We have this transparency. Anything we can fix right away, we'll fix it. We have always been there, and we will continue to be there, in the crises that are before our eyes. Whatever we can simplify, we will do it. But let's face it, certain subjects require time, but that doesn't hinder our desire to do so. Changing the European philosophy on agricultural sovereignty is not a matter of eight days, and it cannot be a matter of eight years. You must not give up. 

"Let's sit around the table with a concrete method, take the 120 projects one after the other and sift them"

You announced the postponement of "a few weeks" of the bill on the installation of new farmers. For what reasons ?

This project was to be presented to the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. I would like it to be completed with a section "simplification". L& ;#39;objective remains although this text will be debated in Parliament "in the first half of 2024". In the meantime, we are continuing our mobilization to respond concretely to farmers' difficulties.

Let's talk about these concrete solutions. On what subjects do you intend to speak ?

I identify several major topics. The first is that of the epizootic hemorrhagic disease which is hitting Occitanie hard. We are going to deploy an aid system which will cover a large part of the veterinary costs and the costs of dead animals for all the outbreaks observed until December 31. The opening of the counter is expected within ten days. Secondly, water, a subject raised with the prefect of Haute-Garonne Pierre-André-Durand during Saturday's meeting with representatives of the agricultural world. They estimate that there are 120 water reservoir projects in the region. Let's sit around the table with a concrete method, take the 120 projects one after the other and let's sift through them. What is blocking ? Is it a question of standards, financing, recourse ? This is all that we need to talk about if we want to to be efficient. This Monday, January 22, in Vendée, I will announce specific funds for agricultural hydraulics. These means will be at their disposal. 

"We defend our interests at the European level, and we are making concrete progress!"

Wine growers are also largely impacted.

Absolutely, viticulture is a sector in crisis, and not only in Occitanie. I will return to Hérault as promised on February 2 to present measures for exemption from charges and cash flow. I would like to remind you that an emergency fund of 20 million euros has already been opened to all winegrowers in economic difficulty. On the occasion of my next trip, we will also discuss the issue of deferred harvesting. 

Beyond these measures and these major issues, farmers can no longer stand the contempt of Europe, on regulatory stacking for example. What can you do about it ? 

We defend our interests at European level, and we are making concrete progress! France, for example, obtained the revision of the status of the wolf, we had been waiting for it for twenty-five years. A meeting is scheduled on this subject for January 31 with the Ministers of the Environment. We have made more progress in six months than in twenty years on the status of the wolf as on many others. ;#39;other issues which aim to defend our crops and our farms. 

"We must do everything to make the rules more consistent with each other"

However, farmers are fed up with restrictive standards from Europe. Christiane Lambert estimated in "La Tribune Dimanche" that the European Commission was not listening to farmers.

I am fully aware that in certain regions, breeders give up because of procedural constraints, the accumulation of standards can discourage farmers from continuing their projects. We must therefore do everything to make the rules more consistent with each other. 

There is work to convince farmers that the Green Deal, which aims to promote the ecological transition, is adapted to their needs. Have we not failed on this point ?

If the Green Deal accelerates the ecological transition and decarbonization with concrete results, that's a good thing, if it leads to a drop in production, it won't. #39;is not acceptable. However, on a certain number, we can express some doubts. 

Comments collected by Olivier Biscaye

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