Drought relief meeting held in Corrèze

A meeting on October 16, led by the prefect of Corrèze, provided an update on the implementation of the CASI drought plan, which aims to support farmers affected by the recent drought. The meeting was held as the first requests for aid had started arriving in farmers' mailboxes, and many farms still faced significant financial damage.

Additional funds allocated for livestock farmers

The State confirmed the allocation of the remaining 25% of the initially announced aid package, adding 478,000 euros for livestock farmers in Corrèze. The prefect also mentioned a national reserve of 21 million euros, which could be released to support the most critical situations, though the exact share for Corrèze has not yet been determined.

Aid applications being processed

The Departmental Directorate of Territorial Development (DDT) reported that 1,375 letters had been sent to eligible livestock farms, with around 400 applications already returned. The first payments are now being processed, with State services urging farmers to return forms quickly to ensure aid is received before the end of the year.

Vegetable growers receive targeted support

CDE members agreed to allocate part of the remaining aid to vegetable growers, who have been severely impacted by the drought. Discussions highlighted their specific challenges, including low insurance coverage and limited access to the National Solidarity Indemnity (ISN). A list of professional vegetable growers will soon receive letters to apply for a one-time aid of 1,500 euros per farm.

Walnut producers to get dedicated aid

The walnut sector, which has suffered significant crop losses and quality degradation due to sunburns, will receive a dedicated aid of approximately 225,000 euros. The CDE is considering a distribution model based on the area of walnut trees declared by each producer, with precise allocation details still being finalized.

Case-by-case support for vulnerable farms

The commission decided to keep a portion of the funds to provide case-by-case support to farms most severely affected by the drought. This includes sectors like beekeeping, fish farming, forest nurseries, and livestock farms in severe economic distress. Professional organizations are being asked to report such cases to State services in the coming weeks.

ISN procedures to open soon

The DDT announced that procedures for the National Solidarity Indemnity (ISN) for crop and financial losses related to the drought are being set up. These procedures are expected to open in the first half of November, after computer systems are configured. All recognition requests submitted for the department have been validated.

Farmers express concerns and call for more support

Representatives from FDSEA and Young Farmers of Corrèze acknowledged the CASI plan as a needed response but stressed it cannot fully compensate for years of losses. They emphasized the need to use remaining funds closely aligned with field realities and to include excluded productions like vegetable growers and walnut producers. They also urged the State to keep some funds available for the most critical situations.