1,000 tractors are expected in Paris on Wednesday. Farmers are mobilizing and plan to organize blocking operations in the capital and Lyon. They protest, among other things, against the Egalim law, the stigmatization of farmers but also against international liberalization treaties.

Farmers are angry and plan to demonstrate in tractors throughout France on Wednesday, with blocking operations planned in Paris and Lyon, to increase the pressure on commercial negotiations with large retailers. The so-called Egalim law, issued from the Estates General of Food and set up at the beginning of the year, was supposed to bring income back to farm prices by rebalancing trade relations, but so far farmers say they do not really see of difference.

More than 1,000 tractors from the Hauts-de-France, Normandy, Ile-de-France, Grand-Est, Center-Val-de-Loire and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté regions are expected on Avenue Foch in Paris. Among them, Régis Desrumaux, dairy farmer in the Oise. At the wheel of his tractor, he is on his way to the capital. "We want to meet Emmanuel Macron, says the breeder at the microphone Europe 1 of Julien Pearce." For a few months we have made actions 'soft', free tolls, communication but we are still not heard. Today we're going to bang our fists on the table! "

"Our income is crumbling"

"Our revenues are crumbling: the charges are increasing but our prices have not moved, despairs Régis Desrumaux.A kilogram of meat today is sold the same price as thirty years ago.Wheat and milk like then that traders, industries do not have the same prices. " He points to the Egalim law. "We believed a lot but it is an elephant who gave birth to a mouse, we have few returns on our farms."

Among the demands, farmers on their way to Paris also denounce the stigma they think they are facing. Especially on the practices of some breeders such as anti-pesticide treatments. "With the municipal elections approaching, it has become a national sport to set up bylaws, the farmer annoyed, but before being a farmer I am a father, I eat what I produce. You think my colleagues and I are unconscious? We are trained, and we know that the French love their agriculture and their farmers. "

"It's non-assistance to anyone in danger"

The dairy farmer speaks directly to Didier Guillaume, Minister of Agriculture, referring to the very high suicide rate of farmers. "He must get the message to the President of the Republic: it is not assistance to anyone in danger."

Farmers are also mobilizing against various international trade liberalization treaties. "It is unacceptable not to respond to a profession, revolt Regis Desrumaux.We impose things on us, we bring foreign products in. We also move for the plate of all French!"