According to the French News Network on February 27, according to the results of the agricultural census, the number of farms in France has decreased by 100000 in 10 years, while the population engaged in agriculture is gradually aging.
With the convening of the French International Agricultural Expo, people are paying more attention to the current situation of French agriculture. The agricultural census results show that in 2010, the number of farms in France was 500000, while today, the number of farms in the country is still less than 400000.
The decline in farms is not due to the loss of agricultural land in France, but rather to farm mergers and an aging workforce. Many farmers buy land from their neighbors. The average area of French farms now stands at 69 hectares, an increase of 14 hectares compared to 10 years ago.
In addition, more than half of farmers are over 55 years old, and many elderly people over 60 have difficulty finding successors. The French want to ensure a healthy renewal of the industry, requiring 7000 "new farmers" to take up their jobs every year. Fortunately, in recent years, the number of farm apprentices has increased, from 35000 to 45000.
