Farmers’ Union about protests in Germany and France: “We have the same problems” After an attack by FCZ fans on a tram: Will there now be a ghost game in Letzigrund?

Dissatisfaction has also been growing in Swiss agriculture for several months. “We have the same problems as Germany and France,” Swiss Farmers’ Association (SBV) vice-president Francis Egger told the Keystone-SDA news agency. Peasant protests are also possible, but not productive in Switzerland.

“Incomes are too low and we have an administrative overload on the agricultural sector,” says Egger. The result is ‘disorientation’. Although more and more is being done, there is also more and more criticism.

According to the vice-president of the SBV, an improvement in the economic situation is most urgent for Swiss agriculture. “We work on average for 17 francs per hour.” Young people in particular need to have prospects for the future.

The entire sector is affected by price pressure, Egger continued. “You may wonder whether the major distributors or consumers are responsible for this. We are in a situation where the purchase of products with a quality label is decreasing in order to get cheap products at low prices ».

The market must function with prices that cover production costs. The Federal Council plans a reduction of 347 million francs in the framework credit for agriculture for the period 2026-2029. This is not acceptable given the increasing demands placed on the SBV.

Peasant protests also possible in Switzerland

Agricultural policy has become more complex and is now reaching a limit, the report said. In Switzerland there is also a risk that farmers will block the roads with their tractors, says the Freiburg resident. “We don’t want that in Switzerland. The law must be respected here.”

According to Egger, agriculture now needs a signal from politics and society showing that income improvements and simplifications in administration will take place. (dabbing/sda)