Dairy farmers in Poitou-Charentes protest at low milk prices

Description:

Whilst their fellow European dairy farmers were gathered to protest in Brussels on Monday, French farmers chose to blockade 81 dairies across the country to protest against the low wholesale price of milk.

There is anger amongst farmers, who feel they are being exploited by wholesalers, with the price they are paid for the product falling dramatically in recent months, whilst supermarket prices have remained stable.

Currently French farmers are paid 21 cents per litre of milk, some 30% down on April 2008, whilst consumers pay between 75 cents and a euro per litre in the supermarket.

Poitou-Charentes president Ségolène Royal has waded into the debate, demanding a return to price regulation, whilst farmers across the region made their protests.  On Saturday, around 40 farmers blockaded a Leclerc supermarket in Bressuire (Deux Sevres), whilst in Charente the dairy at Claix was similarly disrupted.

The government has attempted to mediate between farmers and wholesalers, but no agreement has been reached, and farmers across Europe have pledged to continue with their protests.

Like this story? Why not use our RSS feed and receive updates as soon as they are posted? Or join us as a member and receive a monthly newsletter.