In the Loiret, Elisabeth Borne at the bedside of farmers affected by drought

Alexandre Chauveau, edited by Gauthier Delomez with AFP 7:19 p.m., May 26, 2022

Elisabeth Borne, traveling Thursday in Loiret to a farm affected by drought, assured that her government was "determined to act to prevent the situation from deteriorating" and "to support farmers financially".

Visiting this 230-hectare farm, located between Beauce and Sologne and specializing in cereals, strawberries and asparagus, the Prime Minister spoke at length with a young farmer who explained to her that "this year, the drought had started early."

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The instruction passed to the prefects "to preserve the water resource"

"We are taking measures to manage the water resource and prevent the situation from becoming unmanageable this summer", explained Elisabeth Borne, who was accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau and the Minister for the Ecological Transition Amélie de Montchalin. .

Instructions were given to the prefects "to preserve water resources as much as possible", with "messages to all French people to reduce their water consumption", and for the most difficult situations "drought decrees and therefore restrictions on non-priority uses", she added, specifying that 19 departments are now concerned.

The head of government also recalled that 400 million euros will be allocated "to breeders who may have difficulties with animal feed due to the drought", as part of the exceptional aid plan put in place following the war in Ukraine and the soaring prices of these foods.

"The window for setting up this aid will open on Monday," she announced.

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Continuation of the crop insurance reform project

Elisabeth Borne also recalled the doubling of the envelope (from 20 to 40 million euros) for farmers wishing to invest in equipment to optimize water consumption, and the additional 100 million euros available to water agencies to help agricultural sectors adapt or create water reservoirs.

“In addition, wherever it is justified, we will activate the agricultural disaster system for fodder this year,” she added.

Finally, she assured that her government would "continue the major project of crop insurance reform", so that "the new system applies from January 1, 2023".

“I want to say it very clearly to farmers, my government is at their side to support them in this transition,” concluded Ms. Borne.