This morning, Georges-Louis Bouchez, accompanied by Anne-Catherine Dalcq, regional minister for agriculture, visited the Mélotte farm in Jodoigne, a local family farm run for three generations. From 6am, the two politicians joined the Mélotte family, of whom Anne-Catherine Dalcq is a neighbour and a farmer herself, to share in the daily life of the profession and discuss the major challenges facing the agricultural sector.
The morning began with milking the cows, which Georges-Louis Bouchez tried his hand at, followed by a friendly breakfast with the farming family. This exchange made it possible to address crucial issues: access to farmland, family succession, administrative burden and the complexity of the profession, as well as the necessary openness to international markets.
The discussions also touched on the daily difficulties of farm life and the long-term vision for family farming. Georges-Louis Bouchez and Anne-Catherine Dalcq reaffirmed their commitment to defending a thriving rural life, where every generation can look to the future with confidence despite the obstacles, while highlighting the positive effects of innovation and local development, and reminding everyone of the need to stop unnecessary layers of red tape and additional costs and taxes on our farmers who work to put food on our tables.
Read the article in La DH