“I saw my mother work a lot and receive a pension of 700 euros, not even,” said Christiane Lambert, president of the National Federation of Farmers’ Unions (FNSEA) to the BFMTV microphone last Friday.
One of the causes: a calculation of his retirement that is a “phenomenal injustice”, according to the pig farmer. Because until now, the retirement of self-employed farmers was calculated over the entirety of their professional lives.
From complete career to top 25 years
A law enacted on February 13 changes the game and farmers will soon be able to reap more than they have sown in their careers. In fact, from 2026, your basic pension will be established based on your 25 best years as employees, self-employed and civil servants. At last they will have a retirement like the others.
Today, the 1.3 million retired farmers – excluding employees – earn an average of 1,150 euros gross per month, while the average amount of French pensions is 1,400 euros. 350 euros less therefore.
According to Christiane Lambert, the new law will mean an improvement of 250 to 400 euros per month, a victory after “20 years of struggle,” she adds.
For this reason, the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code recently contains a new article that says the following:
Gradual entry into force?
Some elements remain to be defined, such as the details of the calculation method and a probable gradual implementation of the law to “limit its financial impact.” The state gives the example of taking “the best 37 years for farmers retiring in 2026, the best 34 years for those retiring in 2027… to get to the best 25 years in 2030.”
Farmers, whose work is recognized as difficult and poorly paid, will have to wait a few more years to enjoy the benefits of a retirement like the others. Years in which many should end their active life or at least get close to it. In 2020, the average age of farmers in mainland France was 51.4 years, according to Agreste, the statistics agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, while the State notes that 50% of agricultural workers should retire in the next 10 years.
Source: BFM TV
