Published on 2 Jul 2016
France is the EU's largest agricultural producer, but its farmers are faced with administrative constraints, falling sales prices and debt. Many are pushed into depression and some to the point of suicide; officially, 200 take their own lives each year.
FRANCE 24's Chris Moore and Sylvain Rousseau spoke to farmers in Brittany, one of France's main agricultural regions, who feel increasingly isolated and uncertain. One reason for their anger is the sharp fall in prices for dairy and other animal products.
Among them is Jacques Jeffredo, a vegetable farmer who set out some 600 white crosses in front of a local basilica in October 2015 to symbolise the 600 farmers who he says commit suicide every year.
