Cournon-d'Auvergne (France) (AFP)

The Minister of Agriculture Didier Guillaume tried to reassure worried breeders met Wednesday at the top of the breeding Cournon d'Auvergne (Puy-de-Dome), promising including free tolls for the transport of fodder.

"The farmers need cash to buy fodder", that is why they will benefit "as some asked, free tolls for the transport of straw and hay" said the minister, strolling between the Montbéliardes and other Blondes d'Aquitaine, stars of the summit this year.

Guillaume also announced advances on compensation for agricultural calamities in Puy-de-Dôme and Allier, the two departments most affected by drought.

The breeders will receive 30% of the amount of their loss as soon as the files are filed with the territorial departmental management.

"Farmers are not a problem for the planet, but a chance," the minister stressed throughout his visit, which farmers often questioned.

Like Julien Milliat, a young breeder from the Isère: "Our job is not valued, we are always asked more and we throw the stone, we are told that we pollute. we have another image, a recognition ".

"It is necessary to respect the breeders so that they can provide a quality meat, in France as for the export", answered the minister.

A forest of red cards on which was written "do not import the food we do not want" welcomed Mr. Guillaume on the stand of the FNSEA, the first agricultural union, which leads the fight against trade liberalization agreements ( Ceta, Mercosur).

On the booth of the Limagrain cooperative, the world's fourth seed company, a dialogue of the deaf opposed the minister to representatives of the "association for the development of irrigation in Auvergne", who ask to be able to store 18 million m3 of water per year to meet the needs of grain farmers and breeders in Puy-de-Dôme. "All the projects have been retoqués" by the administration, they explained.

Mr. Guillaume replied that he had announced the release of about sixty reservoirs in France, prompting them to "make plans".

Over the course of its journey, other grievances have emerged: fragility of mountain milk, concerns of sheep farmers concerning Brexit, lower consumption of meat. The minister spent a lot of time on the stand of the meat sector where he encouraged exports to China which are just starting to unblock: 203 tons of French meat have gone to China since the beginning of the year, said The Minister.

© 2019 AFP