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Uncertain future for French farmers Uncertain future for French farmers
(about 1 hour later)
By Emma Jane Kirby BBC News, Cahors, France By Emma Jane Kirby BBC News, Cahors
When France takes over the European Union presidency next year, the EU is set to review the subsidies handed out by the Common Agricultural Policy. But as France is a major beneficiary, any changes French ministers accept will be watched closely by the country's farmers.When France takes over the European Union presidency next year, the EU is set to review the subsidies handed out by the Common Agricultural Policy. But as France is a major beneficiary, any changes French ministers accept will be watched closely by the country's farmers.
Will sheep farming disappear from France if the subsidies stop?There is no fast train or TGV down to Cahors, so the journey from Paris still takes a little more than five hours.Will sheep farming disappear from France if the subsidies stop?There is no fast train or TGV down to Cahors, so the journey from Paris still takes a little more than five hours.
As the train gets closer to the Lot region, it slows up even further, as if shaking off the pressures of the big city and allowing itself to relax into the more comfortable pace of the countryside.As the train gets closer to the Lot region, it slows up even further, as if shaking off the pressures of the big city and allowing itself to relax into the more comfortable pace of the countryside.
Years ago, an elderly French friend of mine who lived in this area, told me that people down here had to move more slowly because their feet were rooted more deeply in the earth. Certainly, the farming community in the Lot is extremely close-knit, and their "attachment au terroir" - their love of the land - and the sense of belonging to it - is acute.Years ago, an elderly French friend of mine who lived in this area, told me that people down here had to move more slowly because their feet were rooted more deeply in the earth. Certainly, the farming community in the Lot is extremely close-knit, and their "attachment au terroir" - their love of the land - and the sense of belonging to it - is acute.
When I visited him on his sheep farm, that was Alain Serres's first, excited question to me. "What do you think of the region? Do you like it?"When I visited him on his sheep farm, that was Alain Serres's first, excited question to me. "What do you think of the region? Do you like it?"
Once one of the most densely populated regions of France, now there are only six or seven people per square mile President Sarkozy has been speaking of the need to reform and modernise the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and Alain fears that if reform touches his sheep farm, he will be out of business.Once one of the most densely populated regions of France, now there are only six or seven people per square mile President Sarkozy has been speaking of the need to reform and modernise the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and Alain fears that if reform touches his sheep farm, he will be out of business.
He already supplements the income he earns from his 450 sheep with a bit of pig farming and wild boar hunting, but the cost of producing a lamb far outweighs the sale price, and much as he would like to be able to make his living from what he produces, it is EU handouts that keep him afloat.He already supplements the income he earns from his 450 sheep with a bit of pig farming and wild boar hunting, but the cost of producing a lamb far outweighs the sale price, and much as he would like to be able to make his living from what he produces, it is EU handouts that keep him afloat.
Alain tells me that he fears for the future of farming in the region. Once one of the most densely populated regions of France, now there are only six or seven people per square mile. Few farmers, Alain says, would be able to withstand the loss of agricultural subsidies. The Lot would become a wilderness.Alain tells me that he fears for the future of farming in the region. Once one of the most densely populated regions of France, now there are only six or seven people per square mile. Few farmers, Alain says, would be able to withstand the loss of agricultural subsidies. The Lot would become a wilderness.
Policy angerPolicy anger
In the bustling Cahors market place though, there are no signs of desertification.In the bustling Cahors market place though, there are no signs of desertification.
The mushroom man who has driven overnight from Correzes after a long day picking fungi sits sleepily among his 14 sacks of giant ceps, occasionally shouting across to the grape man in Patois.The mushroom man who has driven overnight from Correzes after a long day picking fungi sits sleepily among his 14 sacks of giant ceps, occasionally shouting across to the grape man in Patois.
France gets a fifth of all EU agriculture subsidies but 80% of them are harvested by just 20% of French farmers The whole market is a dazzling display of primary colours. Scarlet tomatoes clash with sharp green apples, custard yellow courgettes battle against the deep purple of the cabbages.France gets a fifth of all EU agriculture subsidies but 80% of them are harvested by just 20% of French farmers The whole market is a dazzling display of primary colours. Scarlet tomatoes clash with sharp green apples, custard yellow courgettes battle against the deep purple of the cabbages.
And led by two protest goats, complete with jangling bells, a group of young locals marches through the square waving banners that demand access to the land they believe is rightfully theirs.And led by two protest goats, complete with jangling bells, a group of young locals marches through the square waving banners that demand access to the land they believe is rightfully theirs.
Leading the demo is Aud Penney, a small but tough young woman who is tense with suppressed anger. "The CAP is ruining our chance to buy or rent land," she tells me.Leading the demo is Aud Penney, a small but tough young woman who is tense with suppressed anger. "The CAP is ruining our chance to buy or rent land," she tells me.
Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy faces a difficult decision over CAP reforms"Any farmer who gets subsidies won't sell.Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy faces a difficult decision over CAP reforms"Any farmer who gets subsidies won't sell.
"We know one farmer who's old enough to retire but he gets more cash in handouts than he gets from his pension so it's not in his interest to give up the land to us.""We know one farmer who's old enough to retire but he gets more cash in handouts than he gets from his pension so it's not in his interest to give up the land to us."
France gets a fifth of all EU agriculture subsidies but 80% of them are harvested by just 20% of French farmers, the massive industrial grain and cereal producers.France gets a fifth of all EU agriculture subsidies but 80% of them are harvested by just 20% of French farmers, the massive industrial grain and cereal producers.
It does not leave much for the smaller farmers like Alain Serres. And that is why many French farmers do want to see the CAP reformed so that the booty is shared out more evenly.It does not leave much for the smaller farmers like Alain Serres. And that is why many French farmers do want to see the CAP reformed so that the booty is shared out more evenly.
'Monstrous system''Monstrous system'
As he herded sheep through the market square, Pierre Reiveillac of the left-wing union the Confederation Paysanne says there will be a revolt if the CAP is not reformed properly next year.As he herded sheep through the market square, Pierre Reiveillac of the left-wing union the Confederation Paysanne says there will be a revolt if the CAP is not reformed properly next year.
I asked him if he worried that the urbanite new president - Nicolas Sarkozy - did not understand farmers the way the former President Jacques Chirac had.I asked him if he worried that the urbanite new president - Nicolas Sarkozy - did not understand farmers the way the former President Jacques Chirac had.
He threw back his head and laughed: "Chirac knew how to scratch a cow's bottom and how to pat a goat and that's all!He threw back his head and laughed: "Chirac knew how to scratch a cow's bottom and how to pat a goat and that's all!
"It's his fault that we have this monstrous system where all our subsidies go to industrial agriculture."It's his fault that we have this monstrous system where all our subsidies go to industrial agriculture.
"He's driven people away from farming... and since Sarkozy's a businessman and grain is a big business for France, can you see him let go of such a profitable scheme?""He's driven people away from farming... and since Sarkozy's a businessman and grain is a big business for France, can you see him let go of such a profitable scheme?"
Equal shareEqual share
Before I left Cahors, I slipped into its 11th Century cathedral to have a look at the medieval frescoes and to listen to the organist who was practising for Mass.Before I left Cahors, I slipped into its 11th Century cathedral to have a look at the medieval frescoes and to listen to the organist who was practising for Mass.
The huge font where locals bless themselves has doubled as a bird bath courtesy of a hole in the roof and the holy water is full of feathers and bird droppings.The huge font where locals bless themselves has doubled as a bird bath courtesy of a hole in the roof and the holy water is full of feathers and bird droppings.
Sitting on the stone steps of the nave, quite audible over the huge sound of the organ, I could hear Aud Penney's goats bleating in the market place and the voice of the mushroom man shouting out the price of his ceps.Sitting on the stone steps of the nave, quite audible over the huge sound of the organ, I could hear Aud Penney's goats bleating in the market place and the voice of the mushroom man shouting out the price of his ceps.
A reform of CAP, ensuring a more even distribution of subsidies, could help this farming community remain strong.A reform of CAP, ensuring a more even distribution of subsidies, could help this farming community remain strong.
But if subsidies are lost altogether or are directed again towards the big cereal producers, then I wonder what sounds I would hear on these steps 20 years from now, because I doubt very much it will be the sound of sheep or farmers.But if subsidies are lost altogether or are directed again towards the big cereal producers, then I wonder what sounds I would hear on these steps 20 years from now, because I doubt very much it will be the sound of sheep or farmers.
From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Thursday 4 October, 2007 at 1100 BST on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times.From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Thursday 4 October, 2007 at 1100 BST on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times.