French farmers plan 'siege' of Paris demanding better working conditions

French farmers began moving on Paris on Monday, threatening to choke off major motorways and blockade the capital to press their demands better working conditions, in an intensifying standoff with the government.

In recent weeks there have been a slew of protests in the European Union's largest agriculture producing country by farmers angry about insufficient income, red tape and environmental policies they say undermine their ability to compete with less stringent countries.

"We need answers," said Karine Duc, a farmer in the southwestern Lot-et-Garonne department as she joined a convoy of tractors heading for Paris.

"This is the final battle for farming. It's a question of survival," she told AFP.

A banner on a tractor in the convoy said: "We will not die in silence."

Farmers said they plan to step up their pressure campaign by establishing eight chokepoints along the major arteries to Paris on Monday afternoon.

In response, the government ordered the deployment of 15,000 police and gendarmes.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told the forces to show moderation.

But he also warned the farmers not to interfere with strategic spots.

"We're not going to allow government buildings or tax offices or supermarkets to be damaged or lorries transporting foreign produce to be stopped. Obviously, that is unacceptable," he said.

Darmanin said nor would protests be allowed to affect operations at Paris's Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, or at the Rungis international wholesale food market south of the city.

Armoured police vehicles were deployed to Rungis on Monday after some farmers threatened to "occupy" it.

Police and gendarmes are also under orders to prevent any incursion into Paris itself, said Darmanin.

The government has been trying to keep discontent among farmers from spreading ahead of European Parliament elections in June which are seen as a key test for President Emmanuel Macron's government.

During a visit to a farm on Sunday, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal sought again to address farmers' concerns, after a raft of concessions announced on Friday failed to defuse the crisis.

"I want us to clarify things and see what extra measures we can take," he said.

Arnaud Rousseau, leader of the main farmers' union FNSEA, said he expected to meet Attal later on Monday.

"Our goal is not to annoy French people or make their lives difficult but to put pressure on the government," he told the RTL broadcaster.