Farmers in northwestern France have repeatedly spread straw, manure, old tractor tyres and vegetables outside supermarkets accused of pushing down prices in recent talks between producers, processors and retailers.
Farming organisations have targeted retailers since the middle of this week, as the Government introduced legislation to strengthen rules on below-cost selling and transparency in food pricing.
The farmers had an agreement with the Gov and the Gov went back on their word ( big mistake in France )#Februdairy #teamdairy #Farming pic.twitter.com/wYcPB88gbk
— Sir Stuart Barker (@producelesloges) February 2, 2018
Meanwhile, more farmers have blocked motorways for the past week in the southwest of the country over proposed changes to the map of areas of natural constraints, which they say would exclude 1,000 recipients from the scheme in their region.
#totemINFO #ZonesDefavorisees Les agriculteurs s'installent pour 3 jours et 3 nuits sur la rocade de l'autoroute #A20 et réclament la venue du ministre de l'agriculture @StTRAVERT pour négocier la révision des cartes qui excluents 1000 éleveurs d'Occitanie. pic.twitter.com/CkatRZdpdy
— Johan GESREL (@JohanGESREL) January 29, 2018
Others moved into the centre of Montauban, one of the region's main towns, with local media footage showing farmers starting bonfires and clashing with police using water cannons.
Les #agriculteurs d’#Occitanie s’étaient donnés rendez-vous à #Montauban pour protester contre le redecoupage des zones défavorisées. Ils ont obtenu satisfaction. Reportage sur cette journée d’action. @Europe1 pic.twitter.com/x808Pw9ZCd
— Benjamin Peter (@BenjaminPeter) January 24, 2018