France unveils €1 billion relief package for farmers hit by summer heatwaves

The French government has announced a financial support package exceeding €1 billion to assist farmers grappling with the aftermath of this summer's unprecedented heatwaves and droughts. The extreme weather severely damaged crops, pastures, and water availability across the country.

Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard confirmed the scale of the intervention, noting that the funds represent a substantial commitment given the current fiscal constraints. The government is simultaneously working on a challenging budget for the upcoming year, aiming to control the deficit before the 2027 presidential election.

The relief package includes €520 million designated for rapid disbursement to address immediate weather-related damage. Genevard stated that the primary objective is to manage the emergency situation, with an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 farms currently facing financial distress.

Beyond the immediate payments, the plan establishes a €235 million recovery fund intended to help farms procure seeds, plants, and animal feed for parched land. Additional measures encompass land-tax relief, assistance with social-security contributions, and a fuel subsidy.

The country's main farmers' union, the FNSEA, has reported that production losses have already surpassed €10 billion, with the livestock and arable sectors each estimating damages exceeding €5 billion.

The finance ministry has indicated that the dry and hot conditions could potentially reduce France's economic growth by 0.1 percentage points this year, primarily due to lost farming revenue. Another heatwave is forecast for the coming week in the European Union's largest agricultural producer.