angry french farmers blockade tourist site for second day
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Angry French farmers blockade tourist site for second day

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Angry French farmers blockade tourist site for second day

Farmers use tractors to block the highway
Caen - AFP

Furious over low milk and meat prices, French farmers blockaded access to Mont Saint-Michel, one of the country's top tourist spots, for a second day on Tuesday.

Dairy, beef and pork farmers in Europe's leading agricultural power rolled out dozens of tractors to block roads leading to the Normandy towns of Caen and Evreux, as well as the world heritage site monastery at Mont Saint-Michel on the north coast.

Tourists were forced to get out of buses and roll their suitcases towards the monastery, which sits on an island and attracts some three million visitors a year.

President Francois Hollande said an emergency plan to help the farmers would be presented at his weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Retailers and food industry heads promised to raise prices on meat and dairy after a meeting with farmers last month.
But farmers say they have yet to benefit from the price hikes in supermarkets and are working at a loss, triggering a wave of strikes across the country that escalated into the protests this week.

"The situation of farmers and milk producers is very difficult. That is why I have called on distributors to take responsibility. They must stick to their commitments," said Hollande.

"Tomorrow (Wednesday) the cabinet will take decisions. I have asked that on top of the distribution issue, prices, there be an emergency plan for French farmers and milk producers."

Pig farmer Jean-Michel Juhel in Pledeliac in northwestern France told AFP he loved his job and his animals, but was unable to meet production costs.

"Many farmers are suffering a great deal. We have never known a crisis like this and we don't see a solution."
Juhel works 14 hours a day on his farm, but he loses 30 euros ($33) on every pig he sells for meat.

It has been a long time since he paid himself a salary, and he has nearly exhausted his savings to inject 60,000 euros into his farm this year just to stay afloat.

He blames European policies for his woes, saying competition notably with eastern European countries was "crushing" French farmers.

Juhel also blames consumers who demand cheap food, without concern for the effort that goes into keeping up environmental and safety standards.

"Maybe I can last another year," he said. "But my wife asks me: 'What are we going to do if it continues like this?'"

 

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

angry french farmers blockade tourist site for second day angry french farmers blockade tourist site for second day

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

angry french farmers blockade tourist site for second day angry french farmers blockade tourist site for second day

 



GMT 10:06 2012 Saturday ,28 July

Querrey advances at ATP LA Open

GMT 21:15 2017 Thursday ,01 June

Trump condemns deadly Kabul explosion

GMT 02:15 2017 Thursday ,24 August

Is your country on the Qatar free entry list of 80?

GMT 19:48 2016 Monday ,03 October

Controversial boxing champ Tyson Fury retires

GMT 08:20 2015 Tuesday ,08 December

PC market woes show no sign of easing

GMT 17:27 2017 Tuesday ,25 April

20 Yemeni soldiers killed, injured in explosion

GMT 11:52 2017 Saturday ,30 December

OIC condemns Mar Mina Church attack

GMT 00:03 2017 Saturday ,25 March

Arab Meeting to Examine Anti-Corruption Methods

GMT 13:12 2017 Thursday ,20 April

Deputy premier meets Arab League chief

GMT 14:13 2014 Friday ,10 January

Opel Astra GTC

GMT 18:27 2016 Tuesday ,02 August

Turkish Foreign Minister arrives in Islamabad

GMT 11:27 2016 Tuesday ,13 December

Saudi woman arrested for challenging social norms
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday