French government demands retail price rises to save farmers
© WITT/SIPA/Rex Shutterstock The French government has demanded supermarkets save ailing farmers by charging more for food.
France’s president and agriculture minister have called for action as the north of the country is gripped by producer protests.
Roads have been blocked, abattoirs and supermarkets shut off, and lorries emptied of goods.
Farm secretary Stéphane Le Foll told French newspaper Le Parisien that more than 22,000 farmers were on the brink of bankruptcy.
He said a deep crisis had struck the beef, pork and dairy sector, with almost 10% of farms under threat.
Retailers promised in June they would halt the cost-cutting war and raise prices on shelf, passing the gains on to producers.
Mr Le Foll said prices on pork had risen 18c/kg (13p/kg) and 7c/kg (5p/kg) on beef – but this had to continue.
“In the current crisis, everyone is responsible, from the consumer to the local MP, who should make the most of French products,” he told the newspaper.
Farmers are threatening to boycott crisis talks in Paris on Thursday (23 July), arranged by Mr Le Foll.
#caen . DIRECT. Les #éleveurs en colère bloquent le périphérique http://t.co/ovI1kn12ek pic.twitter.com/rMBMamNsOS
— Ouest-France (@OuestFrance) July 20, 2015
Caen : les agriculteurs bloquent la route de Bretagne http://t.co/bC4VB8IsL7 #Economie #Caen pic.twitter.com/jkF3RXRVnf
— ActuDirect (@ActuDirect) July 20, 2015
Lobby leaders say they want the minister to meet them in Caen to discuss emergency help.
French president Francois Hollande joined the debate on Saturday, calling on retailers to pay producers more.
“Farmers cannot live only on subsidies, there should be prices that pay them well,” the president said.
“The supermarkets are committed to raise prices significantly so there is support for producers. We want this agreement to be respected and French-sourced food to be prioritised.”
“If we want farming to thrive and not only survive, it must be supported.”
Watch French farmers protest through the night:
The average French farm made €25,500 (£17,800) in 2013 – before taxes, but including subsidies. The number earning less than €10,000 (£9,980) is expected to have grown this year.
Beef farm earnings were €18,300 (£12,800) on average in 2013, falling to £14,500 (£10,100) last year.
Pork producer incomes halved from more than €45,000 (£31,400) in 2012 to €22,000 (£15,300) in 2014.