No government holiday.
Elisabeth Borne, traveling this Thursday in Loiret to a farm affected by drought, assured that her government was "Determined to act" and to "Financially support farmers".
"We are taking measures to manage the water resource and prevent the situation from becoming unmanageable this summer", explained the new Prime Minister, who was accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau and the Minister for the Ecological Transition Amélie. of Montchalin.
During his visit to a 230-hectare farm, located between Beauce and Sologne, a young farmer explained to him in particular that “this year, the drought had started early”.
400 million for breeders
The head of government recalled that instructions had been given to the prefects "to preserve water resources as much as possible", with "messages to all French people to lower their water consumption", and for the most difficult situations "of drought decrees and therefore restrictions on non-priority uses”.
19 departments are now concerned.
LIVE |
After meeting farmers exposed to the risk of drought, Prime Minister @Elisabeth_Borne speaks from Sandillon in Loiret.
https://t.co/W6BaTy0VJy
— Government (@gouvernementFR) May 26, 2022
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 the war in Ukraine and the soaring prices of these foods.
The counter for setting up this aid will open on Monday.
“My government is on their side”
Elisabeth Borne also highlighted the doubling of the envelope (from 20 to 40 million euros) for farmers wishing to invest in equipment to optimize water consumption, and the 100 million euros additional resources made 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.
And to add that the government was going to “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.