Lyon protest

Around 1,000 farmers staged a protest yesterday in Lyon to complainabout falling revenues and competition from foreign producer, particularly fromSpain.

With a cow at the head of the march and followed by some 200tractors, demonstrators headed for the town hall distributing fruits and leaflets.

Gilbert Chabas, fruit and vegetable producer in Loire-sur-Rhône,argued that it cost €7 an hour to produce a fruit in Spain, compared with €13an hour in France.

A further demonstration is reportedly planned for 5September, with organisers discussing the possibility of making direct sales onthat day.