Tens of thousands of farmers in Germany have blocked roads across the country as they protested against policies of the government they consider harmful to their future.

“No farmers, no future” was one of the signs displayed on one of the tractors that joined the protest occupying streets in major cities and key motorways across the country.  

German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle spoke of “chaos” in many regions, as well as incidents with the police.

Christians also joined the protests against the government, reported German news website Idea. Members of the national Protestant Church (EKD) as well as members of free evangelical churches met in at least 7 locations to pray for the peaceful course of the protests.

Markus Ehrmann joined the prayer meetings and the demonstrations. “Although I am a self-employed farmer, I sometimes have the feeling that I am an employee of the state”, he told IDEA.

A Protestant Farmer Union also hosted a prayer meeting. Those working in the agricultural sector “have to go public” with their concerns, they said, to make sure politicians take their difficult situation seriously.

Farmers concerned in other places

The fear of a massive loss of jobs in the agricultural sector has led farmers in other European Unions countries such as the Netherlands to not only organise protests but also initiate political movements to defend their rights.

The cut in subsidies for diesel fuel is one of the reasons behind the demonstrations in Germany. A progressive drop in the price of milk and other products sold to retail chains is also pushing farmers to the limit.