CHENNEVIERES-LES-LOUVRES, France - Angry French farmers have intensified their protests for a second consecutive day, blocking major highways leading in and out of Paris in what they are calling the "siege" of the capital. The demonstrations stem from a growing standoff between farmers and the French government, as the agricultural workers voice their grievances over low wages, unfair foreign competition, and over-regulation.

To exert pressure on French authorities, farmers from across the country have encircled the outskirts of Paris, effectively obstructing at least seven highways with fleets of tractors. Determined to have their voices heard, the protesting farmers, including 33-year-old sugar beet farmer Florian Portemer, have set up camp on the A1 highway, just a few miles north of the Charles de Gaulle airport.

Despite causing only minor delays thus far, the ongoing blockades have raised concerns over potential disruptions in the food supply chain. The government cautions that a major disruption could leave Paris with only three days' worth of food supplies. Meanwhile, Arnaud Rousseau, president of the Fédération Nationale des Syndicats d'Exploitants (FNSEA), one of the country's largest farming unions, emphasized that the goal of the protests is not to inconvenience the public but to exert pressure on the government for swift resolution of the crisis.

Among the farmers' complaints are France's complex network of bureaucratic regulations, which they describe as suffocatingly stringent. Specifically, European Union subsidy rules, including a new requirement to leave 4% of farmland fallow, have drawn frustration. The farmers argue that unfair competition from countries with less stringent regulations puts them at a significant disadvantage, as merchants tend to favor cheaper imports that are not subject to the same controls.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, speaking before the National Assembly on Tuesday, assured the farmers that the government would implement controls on the amount of foreign produce entering France, urging an end to the protests. The government also pledged emergency funding for farmers and guaranteed them a living wage. However, these measures have not convinced the farmers to dismantle their blockades just yet.

Support for the farmers' cause is widespread, with a recent opinion poll showing that 90% of French citizens stand behind their protest, which began on January 18 in the south of France. Many farmers, struggling to earn a monthly income as low as 1,200 euros (approximately $1,300), have expressed their solidarity and determination. They have set up tents, organized barbecues, and ensured access to portable toilets on the blocked highways, as they brace themselves for a sustained demonstration.

On the A1 highway, farmers have created a convivial atmosphere, coming together over beers, grilled meats, and electronic pop music. Pierre de Wilde, a fourth-generation farmer from northern France, who is camping out on the highway alongside his 22-year-old son, sees this protest as an opportunity to secure a better future for the next generation of farmers. He emphasizes, "That's exactly why we're all here... to support the next generation of farmers to come."

As tensions rise, the French government faces mounting pressure to address the farmers' concerns and find a lasting solution to the crisis.