Storms Ciaran (November 2-3) and Domingos (November 5-6) have caused significant damage to farms in the French region of Brittany. Gusts of over 160 km/h were recorded on the coast.
Tomatoes, strawberries, cabbage...
"Greenhouse growers, fruit and vegetable producers, nurserymen, and horticulturists have been hit hard by the storms, with greenhouses and tunnels destroyed and severe damage to existing and future crops. These reports are widespread throughout the Finistère and Côtes d'Armor departments and more localized in the rest of the region," according to the Bretagne Chamber of Agriculture.
"Hundreds of farmers have been affected in western France," as reported by the French Ministry of Agriculture to AFP on November 5. "There is some significant damage to greenhouses and field vegetable crops such as cauliflowers and leeks."
Producers worried about the next season
"Although the damage has not yet been quantified, producers have voiced their concerns, especially for the 2024 harvests, which could be severely impacted. Hervé Lapie, FNSEA's general secretary, told FranceInfo that "any greenhouse grower having lost a greenhouse will suffer losses for more than a year. [...] Seedlings have also been disrupted by the heavy rains."
"Procedures for recognition of agricultural disasters, and national solidarity compensation for crop losses"
During his visit to the Finistère department on November 3, Emmanuel Macron claimed that he wanted to "get insurers involved wherever possible, for natural disaster and agricultural calamity!"
After the storm that has affected many farms, @Agri_Gouv supports farmers, especially fruit and vegetable producers.
As announced on Monday by the French President, departmental services will continue — Marc Fesneau (@MFesneau) November 4th, 2023
"Common law measures (tax relief on undeveloped land and deferral of social security contributions) will be activated as soon as possible.
Crop losses will be covered under the new insurance system, including for uninsured farmers, via the national solidarity indemnity (ISN) in the event of catastrophic losses.
As indicated by the French President, all those eligible will be able to benefit from the recognition of a state of natural disaster in the next few days. Other measures will also be deployed where necessary.
Finally, the urgent need is to get production back on track for each affected farmer. Together with their professional representatives, we are going to facilitate the procedures enabling producers to repair, rebuild, and bring their crops back into production," according to the French Ministry of Agriculture in a press release published on Friday.
Source - https://www.hortidaily.com
