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Guy Parmelin’s remedy for struggling farmers is going down badly
🇨🇭 Switzerland /Economy & Trade

Guy Parmelin’s remedy for struggling farmers is going down badly

From Le Temps · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Swiss Agriculture Minister Guy Parmelin’s proposed Agricultural Policy 2030 aims to give farmers more flexibility and reduce administrative work.
  • The plan follows years of complaints about bureaucracy, inspections, rigid direct-payment rules and very low incomes.
  • Farmers are already criticizing the proposal, particularly over the financial resources it would provide to the sector.

Swiss farmers have spent years complaining that paperwork, inspections and rigid direct-payment rules are piling pressure on a sector already struggling with painfully low incomes. Now the government’s proposed remedy is meeting resistance of its own.

The anger in rural areas peaked during a wave of mobilizations in 2024. In a symbolic protest, residents turned village entrance signs upside down. Guy Parmelin, the federal councillor responsible for agriculture, said at the time that he understood the distress affecting farmers and promised measures through the Agricultural Policy 2030, known as PA30+.

On Wednesday, the Vaud politician from the Swiss People’s Party announced that the proposal had been opened for consultation. Its stated goals include “expanding farmers’ room for manoeuvre and reducing their administrative burden.” The Federal Council also wants to target direct payments more effectively.

Those objectives have not stopped criticism. The proposal is already drawing strong objections, particularly over the financial resources allocated to agriculture. The consultation puts Parmelin’s promise to ease pressure on farmers against their continuing concern that the sector does not receive enough support.

Expanding farmers’ room for manoeuvre and reducing their administrative burden

— Swiss government proposalThis is the stated aim of the agricultural policy plan opened for consultation.
About this summary

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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