At last, confirmation that at a diversified farming industry generates a thriving economy - in France at least. It comes from the SIMA Show, Paris, which ends today, out of the mouth of Jean-Paul Papillon of machinery exporters' association SYGMA.
It is France's highly diversified farming structure, spanning large-scale farms in the Paris Basin to the small hill farms of the Massif Central that has encouraged French machinery manufacturers to produce diversified farm equipment, he told me. And that wide range is paying off in terms of rapidly rising export sales.
French machinery exports have increased every year for 13 years and doubled in the past 10 years. Exports were up 6% last year and contributed an estimated €2.2bn to the total value of the French farm machinery industry currently estimated at €3.9bn.
Germany accounts for 20% of French exports and the UK and USA about 10%. But the biggest growth is in sales to Eastern European countries, particularly Russia, where government aid is available for the purchase of new farm equipment.
How refreshing, frank admission that a diversified farming sector supports the development of a thriving and highly profitable machinery export industry. What a pity I heard it from the mouth of a French export official rather than a British politician.