Paris, 1 February 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Shortly after the French government made further promises of aid for farmers to appease their anger on Thursday, the country's largest agricultural unions called for a temporary end to the blockades.

Thousands of French farmers have been keeping up a week-long protest against falling incomes, EU environmental regulations and what they see as growing red tape.

The new measures announced by the government should be put in writing, then the blockades should be suspended, said Arnaud Gaillot of the Jeunes Agriculteurs union (Young Farmers) on Thursday.

Gaillot wants to see concrete improvements by as early as an agricultural trade fair expected to be held at the end of February.

Longer-term measures should be finalized by June and if this is not the case, there will be no hesitation in mobilizing again on a large scale, Gaillot said.

Arnaud Rousseau from the FNSEA union made it clear, "The movement is not stopping, it is changing."

"If we realize that all this was just window dressing, the consequences will be catastrophic," he said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced €150 million ($162 million) for livestock farmers.

France also plans to prevent the import of fruit and vegetables that have been treated with the pesticide thiacloprid.

The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has said that thiacloprid not only kills insects as intended but also harms bees. It is also concerned about a risk to humans if found in high concentrations in groundwater.

Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire promised more inspections for supermarkets, including reviewing the declaration of product origins.

Against the backdrop of increasing water scarcity in parts of France due to climate change, the Minister for Ecological Transition, Christophe Béchu, also announced financial aid for the creation of water retention basins and irrigation.

A new action plan for dealing with wolves is also expected to be presented. As in Germany, France's livestock farmers have to deal with wolf attacks.

French farmers have been demonstrating for days and blocking numerous motorways with tractors across the country.

Paris has seen huge convoys of tractors block main roads leading into the French capital. Farmers have also descended on the south-western city of Toulouse in recent days.

On Wednesday, some protesting farmers forced their way into a wholesale market near Paris.

Meanwhile, the transport industry warned of the impact of the farmers' motorway blockades on logistics across the country.

According to the transport and logistics union TLF, the blockades are unacceptable for the predominantly medium-sized transport companies and are jeopardizing supply chains.

Photo: dpa