France to provide over €1 billion aid to farmers after record heatwave

France has experienced its hottest summer on record, with heatwaves, severe drought and extensive wildfires dominating the weather landscape throughout the season. The national meteorological service extended orange alerts to five departments for several days into September, warning that temperatures could climb to 40 °C in the most affected areas. The prolonged extreme conditions have strained water resources, heightened fire risk and prompted emergency measures across the affected regions.

In response to the agricultural fallout, the French agriculture minister unveiled a relief package exceeding one billion euros aimed at supporting farmers whose crops and livestock have suffered under the relentless heat and water scarcity. The funding will be allocated for irrigation infrastructure, crop insurance and recovery assistance, seeking to mitigate the economic impact of the weather anomalies. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as high temperatures persist, emphasizing the need for coordinated response to safeguard both public safety and the nation’s agricultural output.