Europe Edition
Yesterday, some 300 French farmers protested in Paris in front of the State Council, following the request made to the Government of Emmanuel Macron to reinforce the rules that establish distances for the application of pesticides. The State Council wants to establish a 5-meter wide corridor that can't be treated with pesticides on the banks of the rivers.
Farmers complain about the enormous area they will have to leave uncultivated, considering that France has 1,700 km of waterways and 5 meters on each side have to be left untreated.
They also said that the continuous pressure of environmentalists was inadmissible. Farmers feel stigmatized by society, which sees them as polluters for using pesticides and fertilizers, despite having to comply with very strict regulations that are much more demanding than in the rest of the world. Gone are the days of the COVID confinement when society saw them as heroes who made it possible for their tables to be full of food.
Farmers also complain about bureaucracy and excessive control of the future CAP. According to them, their work will be reviewed by satellite every five days. "What other profession in France is reviewed every five days?" they ask.
Yesterday, protestors burned straw in front of the State Council. 73 people were arrested and transported to the police station in a police bus. The protestors didn't have a permit for this manifestation and refused to dissolve when the police force ordered them to. Protestors plan to block several roads today.
Source: agrodigital.com
