The neighbor is viewed with suspicion, even denounced to the authorities when he does not respect the…
The neighbor is viewed with suspicion, even denounced to the authorities when he does not respect confinement. When the first epizootics, in 2016-2017, brought breeders to the streets, discordant voices struggled to be heard after this umpteenth episode. “People are scared,” sums up Mélanie Martin.
less and better
The old antagonism between farmers who are self-sufficient or operate in short circuits and actors in the long sector, supported by large cooperatives, has never seemed so significant. The first accusing the others of favoring volumes at the cost of the spread of the virus. And the latter referring the former to their lack of rigor in the application of biosafety.
“Large farms have multiplied in recent years, denounces Mélanie Martin. We were flabbergasted when we saw the number of ducks slaughtered in the first contaminated farms in Mant and Malaussanne, with sometimes more than 15,000 animals, despite the sheltering supposed to lower the densities. »
“This climate of suspicion saddens me. There is only one enemy, it is the virus”
For the president of Modef, the sector is caught in a vicious circle. Investments made for biosecurity, particularly in buildings, must be amortized. With the temptation to produce more, comes the risk of facilitating the spread of the virus. “And in the end, the producers do not earn more. »
The union of small producers calls for a refocus on quality. “It would be enough to produce less and better to add value to our products, whether in short or long circuit, and limit the risks of epizootics. Either the State must regulate production to lower densities, or Euralis, Delpeyrat and Labeyrie must assume their responsibilities to make the sector sustainable. »
save the job
This discourse struggles to reach the players in the long sector. Asked about the coming year, Stanislas Giraud, CEO of Labeyrie Fine Foods, replied at the beginning of the month: “What we cannot produce in the first half of 2022, we hope to be able to produce in the second half. Some cooperatives have been investing for several years in areas preserved from influenza, such as the Vendée. The Modef was moved by overall volumes equivalent to those of previous years in January and December at the national level.
“There are 890 waterfowl producers in the department, explains Marie-Hélène Cazaubon, president of the Chamber of Agriculture. Not all of them can limit themselves to the local and the proximity. Short and long lifelines do not have the same role. The fat economy is also based on export. 15% of production goes abroad. Behind, this implies 7,800 direct jobs in the Landes and 11,000 to 12,000 indirect. Not all breeders can or do not wish to move towards an autarkic model. “It’s not the same job. We must respect everyone’s choice, ”continues Marie-Hélène Cazaubon.
“This climate of suspicion saddens me. There is only one enemy, it is the virus. Regardless of the production model. What is done at a producer affects the neighborhood. The President of the Chamber of Agriculture recalls the need to involve lean poultry producers, who are also largely victims of the virus this year. “A health solution will necessarily involve collective work. »
It began this Thursday, February 10, at the health commission of the Interprofessional Committee for Palmipeds with Foie Gras (Cifog). Actors from the short and long sectors, all trade union tendencies combined, came together to outline the future. As we closed, the debates continued. Without it being known if the names of birds have rocketed.