Paris, France – The streets of several French cities have turned into scenes of widespread protest. Hundreds of farmers took to the streets in tractors in angry demonstrations against the government’s decision to slaughter sick cows. The farmers deemed the decision “unfair and a severe blow to their economic interests.” They asserted that this measure threatens the future of French agriculture and increases their financial burdens.
According to eyewitnesses, protesters blocked main roads in rural areas. They also marched to major cities, in an unusual scene reminiscent of ancient agrarian wars, chanting slogans demanding immediate financial compensation and government support for livestock.
One of the protesting farmers asserted: “We are not against protecting public health. But slaughtering our cows in this way without adequate compensation means that we will pay the price for the state’s shortcomings, and our farms may collapse.”
French authorities justified the decision by citing the need to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among livestock. They asserted that culling sick animals was a necessary step to protect markets and consumers. However, farmers argue that the government has not put in place an adequate mechanism to support them financially. This has led them to escalate their protests and take to the streets.
These protests come amid a deepening crisis in the French agricultural sector. Farmers are struggling with rising production costs and feed prices, as well as difficulties marketing their produce both domestically and internationally. Agricultural experts have warned that continuing these stringent measures without equitable solutions could lead to greater social unrest in French villages and potentially even a temporary paralysis of agricultural transport.
