“Where did the subsidy go” ask the farmers’ unions

Sugar cane growers are wondering about a subsidy promised by the Minister of Overseas, during his visit to Reunion. Without news from the ministry, they gathered this Tuesday in front of the DAAF in Saint-Denis, to challenge the state services.

“Or are the 16 million for the canniers?” This is the question posed by cane growers. This Tuesday, following the call of the FDSEA, the JA and the CGPER, a dozen farmers met in Saint-Denis, in front of the premises of the DAAF, the Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Forestry.

When the Minister of Overseas Affairs, Sébastien Lecornu, arrived, the planters’ unions had then asked him for an additional 16 million euros. At the last cane convention, they had lost 40% of their income. The minister had promised to give an official response in the first fortnight of March. However, the unions have not received any news from the ministry at the moment and are wondering: “Are these only election promises?”

The situation is qualified “d’inadmissible” for the trade unions, which are working to sustain the sector. An impossible exercise, according to them, especially without visibility on the funds allocated by the State. “No one is taking a position on agriculture”worries Jean-Michel Moutama, president of the CGPER.

In the morning, a meeting took place between the DAAF and the farmers. In electoral reserve, the director of the DAAF could not confirm the amount of the subsidy and announces that aMail should arrive at the end of the week or the beginning of next week. He will then specify the amount of the new Cannes agreement.

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