All concerns about the cold snap are not yet over. “A risk of frost is announced for April 27, due to the famous red moon”, believes Daniel Sauvaitre, arborist in Reignac, in Charente, and president of the National Association Pommes Poires. The icy episode that struck part of the national territory, the three dark nights of Tuesday 6, Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 April, will be remembered. Affected arborists and winegrowers immediately sounded the alarm.
A foghorn heard by the government. From Saturday April 10, Jean Castex promised “Exceptional envelopes” to support farmers facing the frost episode. A week later, on April 17, the Prime Minister, traveling in Hérault, Aude and the Pyrénées-Orientales, did not hesitate to quantify at one billion euros the amount of aid that the government was ready to mobilize.
Mr. Castex also outlined the main lines of this support plan. It is first of all available in emergency measures, such as the white year of contributions, the reduction of property taxes on unbuilt land and the mobilization of existing mechanisms in terms of partial activity and loans guaranteed by the State. An envelope will also be allocated to the prefects with a view to providing immediate aid to the farms in greatest difficulty.
“A strong signal”
Secondly, the government is planning a series of exceptional measures. Compensation for arborists for agricultural disasters will be increased to 40% for the most significant losses, a maximum threshold set by Brussels. Sectors that are not eligible for this agricultural disaster regime, such as viticulture, will nevertheless benefit from equivalent support. Even insured farmers will be better compensated. Pending the costing of this aid, a lump sum advance based on the loss of monthly turnover will be granted.
The speed of the State to respond to the concerns of the agricultural sectors is unanimously welcomed by the profession. “The government has become aware of the difficulties encountered by our companies, affected by the crisis linked to the pandemic for thirteen to fourteen months, and which risked not recovering after this climatic episode. The answer is firm and massive. This is a strong signal, very important for winegrowers in a state of psychological fragility ”, sline Jean-Marie Fabre, installed in Fitou (Aude) and president of the Independent Winegrowers, where Mr. Castex made a stopover on Saturday. Likewise, the FNSEA union welcomed “A rapid and strong mobilization of the government”.
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