France supports farmers as fuel and fertiliser prices surge

PARIS, March 24 (Reuters) - France announced emergency measures on Tuesday to help farmers struggling with soaring fuel and fertiliser costs resulting from the war in Iran, but farmers said these steps were insufficient, with many farms at risk.

Higher prices for diesel, gas and fertilisers are threatening some farms' stability and ability to produce food.

• Immediate steps announced by the farm ministry include delayed payment of social contributions and flexible tax deadlines upon request.

• State-backed, short-term loans from the public investment bank Bpifrance are available to the farms most affected by fuel price hikes.

• The government is also working with banks and distributors to find solutions for businesses facing cash flow problems.

• France has been pushing at European Union level to exclude fertilisers from the carbon border levy, which came into force on January 1, to ease costs for farmers.

• Disruptions to shipping in the Gulf's Strait of Hormuz have rattled global fertiliser and oil trade, contributing to price spikes and production challenges.

• Similar support was announced for the transport sector on Monday.

• The main French farmers' union, FNSEA, said in a statement that the measures "only postpone the problems without actually resolving them".