Launched in 2021 by the Saône-et-Loire departmental council to enable farmers to better cope with drought phenomena, subsidization of up to 80% for the acquisition of a rainwater recovery and storage device has already attracted 80 agricultural professionals, whether they are breeders, market gardeners, or carry out an activity with animals, such as a pony club at the foot of the Morvan.
Sophie and Pascal Vacher, until then exclusively Charolais breeders in Charmoy, near Creusot (Saône-et-Loire), took advantage of aid to diversify their activity.
“We had a hard time with the last droughts and as our son wants to work with us, we didn't want to leave him just our cattle.
We decided to invest one million euros to create a chicken coop.
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“The unavoidable obligation to constitute reserves”
The brand new building houses 22,000 layers.
“We have anticipated the future with, in particular, an aeration and ventilation system like those found in the Drôme, since we are told the same climate will be expected in fifteen to twenty years.
“Above all, the hens will benefit from a park on which 1,500 trees have just been planted, “so that they can have shade and protect themselves from predators”.
Read alsoDrought: if it does not rain quickly, “the situation will worsen” in many departments
Sophie and Pascal legally needed water reserves: “The law required us, for fire protection, to have a pocket of 120 m3.
We doubled the capacity with a 250 m3 pocket that fills with rainwater.
We also need this water for the rooting of trees.
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The department financed 52% of the investment of 37,000 euros for the water reserve and for the agro-forest.
The intercommunality added 7200 euros.
“In addition to the now unavoidable obligation to build up reserves, this also helps to preserve drinking water resources and farmers' finances,” underlines André Accary, president of the department.
