French farm plan to allow 3 billion euros investment - PM
PARIS (Reuters) - France will offer financial support for struggling farmers that will allow a total of 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) to be invested over the next three years, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Thursday.
As part of a relief package for agriculture, the French government would provide 350 million euros annually towards modernising farms, an amount which would be brought to 1 billion a year through co-financing by French regions and the European Union, he said.
The announcement followed a meeting with farm union officials as farmers gathered in Paris with over 1,500 tractors to protest against low prices and high costs.
($1 = 0.8986 euros)
(Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide, James Regan and Gus Trompiz)
