Two months after the start of the particularly violent frost wave that hit the French fields hard, the government is setting up assistance for affected professionals.
Published in the official journal this Saturday, a decree sets up a "
help in the form of a repayable advance
", active from Sunday.
Read also: Frost: French agriculture in shock
This aid should benefit "
operators specializing in the production of stone fruits having suffered major damage to their harvests of cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines or plums
", specifies the text.
The professionals concerned are those who would like to obtain reimbursement under the agricultural disaster scheme, but who need support in the meantime.
Several conditions are listed.
Among these, the production of stone fruits and table grapes must represent more than half of the turnover of one of the last three financial years.
In addition, losses caused by frost must reach “
at least 70%
” of production.
In parallel, a decree published in the wake of this clarifies the list of departments concerned. In mid-April, the Minister of Agriculture, Julien Denormandie, deplored a “
dramatic climatic event
”, which would be “
probably the greatest agronomic disaster
” of the 21st century. In total, an overwhelming part of the metropolitan territory is concerned, namely 81 departments, ranging from the Alpes-Maritimes to Cantal, via Eure, Hérault, Jura, Bas-Rhin or Hauts-de-Seine.
The amount of the advance reaches "
20% of the value of the lost production
". It is capped at 20,000 euros, and must be paid by the prefect of the department. Subsequently, the aid will have to be repaid but its amount will have to be deducted, "
where applicable, from the compensation likely to be paid for agricultural disasters for the same episode of frost and the same productions
". Professionals who try to lie to obtain this advance risk an increase of 10% of the amount to be reimbursed, by decision of the prefect.
The wave of frost will have serious consequences on French harvests: the sectors expect to be able to offer fewer products and to have to sell them at a higher price this summer. The executive, for its part, wants to encourage individuals to consume tricolor fruits and vegetables, to support farmers.