This early spring has been catastrophic for French producers.
The episode of frost, which earned them a few sleepless nights, will cause a "significant economic shock", warned the government.
But at what point?
Julien Denormandie, the Minister of Agriculture and Food, does not go all the way: “We had a dramatic climatic event.
Probably the biggest agronomic disaster of the beginning of the twenty-first century, he said Monday evening on the Public Senate channel, after calling a crisis meeting the same day.
#Freeze: “the biggest agronomic disaster of the turn of the century”, according to Julien Denormandie
▪ @ J_Denormandie # agriculture #agriculteurs 👇 https://t.co/ECA0t5tKQ8
- Public Senate (@publicsenat) April 13, 2021
“Several hundred thousand hectares have been affected.
In terms of money, it will be very significant ", fears Julien Denormandie, evoking" more than 10 regions out of 13 affected "by the phenomenon.
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"We lost a whole year of work": the farmers helpless in the face of the frost episode
Freezing episodes are relatively common, but it subsided after a period of mild temperatures.
"There was an effect of strong heat, so the plant developed, and overnight the temperatures dropped drastically and burned down all" of the productions, details the Minister.
These are "economic losses" first for fruit producers, later for wine producers and field crops ".
Aid spread over time, paid according to the harvest period
Even if it is too early to draw up a complete assessment, Julien Denormandie gave some details on the support systems for farmers.
“They will be phased in over time, depending on when the income does not flow into the coffers.
The payment would be made according to the nature of the crops, and therefore the harvest period.
"Our goal is to put in place the aid when farmers need it most," he explained, while claiming to have received the support of insurers and bankers in the morning.
“They made a commitment to strongly support our farmers.
"
VIDEO.
"No matter how hard we heat, it's irrecoverable": after the frost episode, these farmers lost everything
Certain devices should also be activated in the very short term: partial unemployment, or actions on employer charges, summarizes Public Senate.
“These are devices that will be put in place quickly,” says Julien Denormandie.
Another cold snap this week
The Minister also recalled that the funds from the recovery plan for the adaptation of farms to climate change would also be used to protect crops.
"Within the framework of France Relance, we already have an envelope of 100 million euros dedicated to the financing of infrastructures to fight against the vagaries of climate change," he recalls.
If it is necessary to abound, obviously it will be abounded.
"
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As for the impact of prices for the consumer, Julien Denormandie expects the price of French products, in particular fruit, to rise on the stalls by the summer.
A new meeting next week of the crisis unit is scheduled.
“This will be a follow-up over time with regard to the extent of the damage”.
All the more so since the disaster is not behind the farmers: a second cold wave is coming at the start of the week and will add "difficulty to difficulty".
