Paris - Thousands of French farmers, irate over the widespread loss of earnings, began Friday a nationwide protest action that included shutting down the famous Champs Elysees in Paris.

Dozens of farmers erected barricades and set piles of tyres ablaze on the popular shopping strip in the heart of the French capital early Friday, closing the street to traffic.

The head of the FNSEA union representing farmers, Jean-Michel Letemayer, said the crisis was not restricted to any particular sector. "All the producers are (in crisis)," he said.

According to the government's statistics office INSEE, farm prices fell by 2.5 per cent in August over July, and have plunged by 15 per cent in one year.

As a result, the farmers are demanding a government bailout worth some 400 million euros (596 million dollars).

On Thursday, Farms Minister Bruno Le Maire admitted that French farmers were facing the most severe crisis in more than 30 years, and promised to draw up a relief plan that would involve lowering the social fees and charges they are obliged to pay. (dpa)