Farmers across France, responding to the FNSEA’s call for action, are initiating protests starting November 14, 2024, aimed at urging the government to address issues like fair income and agricultural dignity. While maintaining a commitment to avoid disrupting daily life, they express heightened dissatisfaction, particularly in regions like Occitanie. Planned demonstrations include blocking retail logistics and occupying public spaces, with escalating measures threatened if their demands for tangible results are ignored.
Farmers Mobilize for Change Across France
Following the appeal from the National Federation of Agricultural Operators’ Unions (FNSEA) for a nationwide mobilization starting November 18 and 19 until the end of December, farmers and various organizations are set to initiate local actions beginning Thursday, November 14, 2024. The rallying cry resonates everywhere: begin with gentle protests, but prepare to escalate if the government remains unresponsive.
Actions and Demands from Farmers
FNSEA president Arnaud Rousseau clarified the movement’s intent during a press conference on November 13, stating, “Our aim is not to disrupt daily life for the French people. We do not wish to block or irritate them, nor do we want to create food shortages.” Instead, the goal is to pressure public officials to address crucial issues surrounding the dignity of agricultural work, fair income, simplification of processes, and the enhancement of food sovereignty.
The specifics of the mobilization will be dictated by regional assessments, with operational intensity varying based on weather conditions and ongoing fieldwork. Rousseau noted that the levels of dissatisfaction and demands differ across regions, with areas like Occitanie and New Aquitaine experiencing heightened tensions.
Actions have already begun, with farmers in Bouches-du-Rhône blocking the logistics platform of retail giant Lidl, followed by a planned demonstration in Tarascon on Friday. In a striking display of dissent, they dumped manure outside the tax center to protest tax burdens and low-cost imports. Meanwhile, roundabouts in Côtes-d’Armor and Meuse have been occupied, and further actions targeting supermarkets and local government offices are anticipated in the upcoming days.
David Labbé, president of the poultry sector at the FDSEA of Côtes-d’Armor, expressed the sentiment of many, stating, “The movement will be tougher than before, as our anger is palpable. The government has not fulfilled its earlier promises.” A procession of tractors in Drôme displayed a coffin marked “RIP Agriculture” at the town hall, symbolizing farmers’ grievances.
Régis Desrumaux, president of the FDSEA of Oise, has proposed covering speed cameras on local roads as a symbolic gesture of frustration. “The state is costing us money, and we see no real results,” he stated, indicating a readiness to strike where it would be most impactful. Farmers have also begun removing road signs in Beauvaisis, and “fires of anger” have been kindled in various locations leading up to the mobilization on Monday.
Farmers’ demands extend beyond opposition to Mercosur; they also include calls for an increase in income and the fulfillment of previous commitments made during past agricultural crises. The 2025 finance bill, which was expected to provide support measures, has not alleviated rising tensions. Rousseau emphasized, “We are looking for tangible results,” referring to promises made by President Emmanuel Macron regarding minimum pricing at the Agricultural Show.
The FNSEA’s mobilization efforts may continue through December and even into January 2025, featuring three main phases: gatherings at prefectures and significant European sites, advocacy for a bill aimed at reducing agricultural constraints, and discussions focused on farmers’ income in relation to commercial negotiations.
In collaboration with Young Farmers, the FNSEA has cautioned that more aggressive actions may be taken if the government fails to respond adequately. Pierrick Horel, president of Young Farmers, stated, “We do not desire a repeat of the ‘yellow vests’ movement,” but left the possibility of escalating actions open should inaction persist.