Photos: 1,000-tractor protest as French farmers descend on Paris

French farmers descended on Paris in a 1,000-tractor protest to call for government action to ease what they warn is a crisis in agriculture.

Organisers said 1,733 tractors from across France took part in the protest, with farmers meeting on the outskirts of Paris before driving into the city on Thursday (3 September).

See also: Industry leaders take farm fight to Brussels

Many of the protestors took days to drive to the French capital, arriving in convoy during the early morning rush hour.

The demonstration was organised by the Federation of French Farm Unions (FNSEA) and the Young Farmers organisation (Jeunes Agriculteurs).

Farmers say they have been hit by high production costs and low food prices – which they blame on cheap imports, Russian trade restrictions and competition between supermarkets.

French farmers said bringing their tractors to Paris was the most effective way of highlighting their plight – and making sure the French government listened.

Protestors arrived at the Place de la Nation in the east of the city after driving into Paris during the morning rush hour.

French farmers say they are being driven out of business by cheap imports – including pork from Denmark and Germany where production costs are lower.

Many of the tractors carried village signs, showing where they had come from.

The farmers accuse French President Francois Hollande of breaking promises and failing to do enough to alleviate the situation.

Despite the disruption, many Parisians appeared sympathetic to the farmers’ plight – with some passers-by even posing for photographs with the protestors.

Protestors parked their tractors in side streets around the Place de la Nation, with some setting out tables and chairs to enjoy a picnic in the sunshine.

The Triumph of the Republic statue at the centre of the Place de la Nation was festooned with French farm union banners and slogans.

French farm leader Xavier Beulin told the crowds that the crisis facing French agriculture was an economic crisis, a moral crisis and a crisis for society.

Young farmers from Brittany made their point by repeatedly sounding a foghorn during the protest and letting off flares in front of the crowd below.

Farm leaders say their next step will be to join farmers from across Europe for a mass protest due to take place in Brussels on Monday (7 September).