A way to show their support for a struggling profession. On Facebook, many Internet users share a shaky comparison between the income of farmers and the amount of support for unaccompanied minors. “Average annual income of a farmer in France: 7,000 euros, we can read in this text. Cost of an isolated minor: 50,000 euros per year. »
A text which suggests that the public authorities would be more concerned about a foreign minor arriving alone in France than about farmers, while they have been demonstrating since Monday. Farmers, particularly in Occitanie, deplore incomes that are too low, are worried about the multiplication of prices that are too low or even demand real application of the Egalim law.
20 minutes verified these figures shared on social networks.
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The situation of farmers is contrasted, noted INSEE in 2021. The average disposable income for agricultural households amounted to 52,400 euros in 2018, but only a third – 17,700 euros – came from agriculture. Other income came from the spouse’s salary or from the farmer himself – one in five farmers has two activities, according to statisticians. The sale of artisanal products or tourism on the farm supplement this income for those who offer them. Finally, around 20% of income comes from assets, mainly rents.
A typical portrait is drawn here. However, the profiles of farmers are more contrasting: a cereal grower from Beauce does not have the same income as a dairy farmer from Normandy or a wine grower from Aude. It is the cattle breeders who have the lowest income: 11,300 euros, according to INSEE, which adds that these breeders also benefit less from a second salary.
Disparate situations
Among dairy farmers, the income from activity increases to 17,000 euros, but with disparities between regions: those from Jura, whose milk is intended for AOP cheeses, have higher incomes than those from Normandy, where milk is mainly intended for the food industry.
On cereal and oilseed crop farms (rapeseed, sunflower, etc.), income from assets and other activities “is substantial”, notes INSEE. Finally, among wine growers, unsurprisingly, producers in Champagne or Burgundy are doing better than farmers in Hérault or Aude.
It is therefore difficult to state without qualification that the average annual income of a farmer is 7,000 euros, as Internet users do on Facebook. What about the 50,000 euros advanced for the care of an isolated minor? This figure is put forward by the Association of French Departments (ADF). These minors who arrive in France without being accompanied by an adult are in fact taken care of by the departments, under the heading of social assistance for children. The ADF indicates to 20 minutes that this figure is the one that appears in a 2018 report on these young people. These 50,000 euros correspond to the amount of care for a child placed with child welfare, whether this young person is an unaccompanied minor or not. Since 2018, “this figure has been stable”, adds the ADF.
This estimate should be taken with a grain of salt, senators noted in 2021, adding that the figure is “probably overestimated”. However, it is difficult to establish a real figure. The Court of Auditors already deplored in 2020 “the lack of knowledge of the real costs of the systems and procedures” linked to these minors, noting that “the absence of analytical compatibility in the majority of departments prevents them from distinguishing what concerns unaccompanied minors. [mineurs non accompagnés, c’est-à-dire les mineurs isolés] in their expenses. »
Not all young people are in the same boat
In addition, the care of these young people is not uniform throughout the territory, or even within a department. Some will be accommodated in child welfare establishments, others will be accommodated in hotels or in young workers’ homes. Devices that do not all have the same cost, as the Seine-Saint-Denis department confirms to us: “There are 1,800 unaccompanied minors supported [hors mise à l’abri] by the department as of November 30, 2023. Our total MNA expenses for 2023 are 41.4 million, or an average cost of 23,000 euros per MNA per year. » The average cost of a place for these minors financed by the department was 28,524 euros last year.
The difference between these two figures comes from the different hosting solutions. “Even adding to this figure reimbursements and clothing-type support and support expenses by the department itself, we are well below 50,000 euros,” adds Seine-Saint-Denis.
The care of these young people creates tensions between the State and the departments, which are asking for more financial support to cope with the arrivals. In February, it was President LR of the Alpes-Maritimes who asked for better support. The department, which borders Italy, has seen an influx of young people which has “saturated” the reception facilities. Faced with the situation, the Secretary of State for Children announced in August the launch of a “flash investigation” into the management of these minors by the departments. When requested, his office did not respond to requests for 20 minutes.