Sanctions over Ukraine conflict instead of Russia destroying farmers in France – NYT

French farmers believe that the war in Ukraine is destroying them.

This is reported by the New York Times.

“At the beginning of the war, in 2022, our Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire said that we were going to destroy Russia economically. Well, it is the war in Ukraine that is destroying us,” said farm owner Fabrice Monneri.

The chairman of France’s leading farmers’ union, FNSEA, Arno Russo, told the publication that it makes no sense to talk about farming methods that help preserve the environment if farmers cannot make a living.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal previously announced that by the summer, a new bill would be introduced guaranteeing fair pricing for agricultural products. Prior to this, the authorities also promised to strengthen enforcement of the Egalim law, which requires distributors to offer a fair price for farm products.

In France, in recent weeks, farmer protests have been gaining momentum. They blocked key highways, obstructing traffic with tractors, haystacks, and piles of manure. Protesters threw manure and waste at prefectures and administrative buildings. They demanded recognition of the importance of their work and criticized the government’s agricultural policy, which they believe makes them uncompetitive.

In particular, farmers protested against the importation of agricultural products, restrictions on water use for irrigation, increases in the cost of diesel fuel, as well as restrictive measures on environmental protection and the growing financial burden on production.