Elections to the Gard Chamber of Agriculture: Modef goes on campaign with income as a priority

Frédéric Mazer (à d.) et Xavier Fabre entourant leurs colistières Amandine Reilhan et Corinne Mourgues. Midi Libre – Alexis BETHUNE

Le syndicat agricole marqué à gauche, qui avait fait 10,22 % des voix dans le Gard lors des dernières élections, veut "remettre de l’humain" dans l’organisme consulaire.

“Today, our chamber is a commercial service. We must put the free service back at the heart of the Gard chamber of agriculture. Others are in France.” The tone is set among the representatives of Modef, gathered this Friday, January 3 in Alès, a few days before the launch of the election campaign for the department's chamber of agriculture, which begins this Wednesday, January 8.

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From January 15 to 31, farmers in the department are invited to vote, by mail, for the representatives of the consular body, the current majority of which is represented by the alliance between the largest national unions including the FDSEA and the Young Farmers.

Also read: Elections to the Gard Chamber of Agriculture: the FDSEA, the JA, the cooperation and the independent winegrowers present "a common union list"

“A farmer who does not earn a living cannot do ecology”

Particularly established in the north of the Gard and the Cévennes region, the union is putting forward, for this election, a list “two-thirds renewed” and partly rejuvenated, composed partly of breeders, winegrowers and nurserymen. Present but discreet during the demonstrations of January 2024, the union has been defending, for several years, for “the reinstatement of the floor price guaranteed by the State”, in the words of Frédéric Mazer, sheep farmer in Corbès and Gard president of Modef.

“For us, income comes first,” he maintains. For Modef, the evolution and transformations needed by agricultural areas must first come through better remuneration. “A farmer who does not earn a living cannot be environmentally friendly, adds Xavier Fabre, a winegrower in Domazan. It's normal: he thinks first of all about feeding himself and feeding his family. With a decent income, you'll see, they will start to be environmentally friendly.”

As for the term commercial register concerning the current chamber, Modef deplores the costs impacted on farmers concerning several administrative procedures. In their measures, they also advocate for “putting back into place agricultural sector advisors” in order to improve proximity with professionals : “It is an essential service, and it will allow us to bring back the human element and show the usefulness of the chamber.”

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