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The chambers of agriculture

 

The “Chambers of Agriculture” were founded by the Law of 3 January 1924. They are responsible for representing all the various economic agents in agriculture: farmers, but also landowners, employees, and agricultural organisations such as mutual insurance companies, cooperatives, credit providers and general purpose unions. They also support farmers in their development and may be contacted by local authorities about development issues in the territory.

At the departmental level, the Chambers of Agriculture provide essential information and help to farmers. They have a development and farming Steering Committee, and training organisations whose employees inform and train farmers. They also support the development of agriculture and related sectors, and now have extended powers in matters of the environment, territorial and rural development, and development of the forests and woods sector.

The main activities of the Chambers of Agriculture concern:

  • Support for farms: This includes consulting and training schemes to help farmers establish themselves, as well as farm projects and production: comprehensive consulting, business strategy, technical advice on production, etc.

  • Resources and database management: This concerns the management of development programmes and training programme design, observation and modelling of farming systems as well as testing and experimentation.

  • Agronomy and environment: Comprehensive environmental procedures are implemented within production systems or territories, with fertilisation management, crop protection, quantitative water management, recycling of waste, soil quality and energy management, and environmental standardisation.

  • Territories and local development: This refers to involvement in territories’ projects, biodiversity and landscape management, pastoralism, land use planning and development, and management of risks and disasters. It also involves the promotion of “Farm” and “Local producers’ markets” networks and sustainable tourism in general: agritourism products, heritage restoration, etc.

  • Product quality schemes and support for territorialised industries: These concern the development of organic agriculture and support for product quality schemes (Label Rouge, AOC, etc.), along with the development of local industries, promotion of farm produce and other projects in the food and non-food sectors.

  • Measurement, analyses and accounting: Carried out by a part of the Chambers, these activities concern animal performance monitoring, corporate accounting and analysis laboratories.

  • Promotion of agriculture and related careers: Including organising and attending exhibitions and fairs, activities in schools, and guidance for young people.

  • The economy and agricultural policy: Including macroeconomics (studies, prospects, observatories, industrial intelligence, etc.), policy monitoring and international cooperation actions.

 

Vaches de l'Aubrac sur le Mont-Aigoual © EICC

© EICC

To find out more about the Chambers of Agriculture:

Aveyron: www.aveyron.chambagri.fr

Gard: www.gard.chambagri.fr

Hérault: www.herault.chambagrifr

Lozère: www.lozere.chambagri.fr