An unexpected call, to say the least. This Sunday morning, Stéphane, a farmer in the Dordogne, hesitated to pick up the phone while she was out walking her horses. Finally, she answered. On the other end of the line, a voice said: “Hello Stéphane, this is Michel Barnier “the Bergerac plum grower tells our colleagues at France Bleu.

Invited by France Bleu on Friday November 15 to talk about the agricultural crisisthe Prime Minister listened to the poignant testimony of this 59-year-old farmer, who grows walnuts, plums and hazelnuts. “Stress, distress, loneliness… I’m used to dealing with it. But now, all of a sudden, to be told that my employees […] at the end of the month, I’m going to tell them it’s all over, I can’t afford it. [les] pay. What do I do?”the farmer broke down in tears. Before continuing her plea for help: “I was hoping the youngest would take over the farm, but she doesn’t want to. Seeing Mum working 13 hours a day and on the verge of suicide doesn’t make her dream…”

After these words, Michel Barnier said he was “very moved listening to Stéphane”.. “I want to tell him that we have to hold on. We must not leave these men and women in their solitude”.he added, before assuring us that he was looking into the particular case of this farmer.

A call to discuss finances and support

So, two days later, the Prime Minister made a point of calling Stéphane for half an hour. “I was blown away by this person’s simplicity and understanding. He insisted on the aid I personally needed, but we’re not going to solve the agricultural crisis by solving my cash flow problems.” explains the farmer.

While she seems delighted by this appeal, which shows that the that “there are still people who care”. the situation of the agricultural sector, she is intrigued to see the Prime Minister interested in her financial problemsmore than his own bank does. “What saddens me is that we had the impression that Crédit Agricole was less aware than the Prime Minister, who called me as if he were my bank advisor.”she confides.

Less than a year after a large-scale movement of anger in the countryside, the agricultural unions are once again calling on their troops to demonstrate once again this Monday, November 18in the run-up to their professional elections in January. Hit by poor harvests and emerging animal diseases, farmers feel that they have still not reaped the rewards of last winter’s anger: the implementation of the 70 commitments made by the Attal government at the time has been slowed by the dissolution of the National Assembly.