France announced more than €1billion in emergency support for farmers after an unprecedented summer of heatwaves, wildfires and drought, but agricultural groups said the package falls short.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu called the issue the ‘top priority’ of the new political session after a summer that left some farms facing severe crop and livestock losses in the European agricultural powerhouse.
Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard said France faced a “double imperative”: compensating losses to prevent bankruptcies while helping farms restore production.
“If we... lose productive capacity, we will lose landscapes, market share, sovereignty and quality products,” she told a press conference, where she announced the fund of €1billion in “new money”.
“This is a strong response, a significant show of solidarity from all French people in a difficult budgetary situation,” Genevard added, as France faces fierce budget debates to try to bring down soaring deficits and debt.
