France, Sept. 4 -- Unveiling the CASI aid package on Friday, Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard said the money was needed both to compensate farmers for their losses and protect future production.

"The country faces a double imperative: compensate for losses to avoid bankruptcies and restart agricultural production," Genevard said. "If we structurally lose productive capacity, we will lose landscapes, market share, sovereignty and quality products."

Some crop producers have reported losses of up to 80 percent, while livestock farmers have also been badly affected by shortages of animal feed.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu had described agriculture as his "number one priority" as the government returned to work after the summer.

Fre...