| Popis: |
Structural patterns that accompany the growth and modernization of Brazil's agrarian economy are identified. Despite increasing land concentration, a rather large and disproportionate economic contribution of sizable numbers of very small farms is documented, as is an enhanced vitality of larger farms. Meanwhile, large quantities of unused agricultural land remain on many medium-sized and large farms. The expected inverse relationship between farm size and various measures of production per land unit is validated, and reasons for the inverse relationship are deduced. Production is so large on small farms because their intensity of resource use overwhelms the facts that yields are greater and higher-valued export crops are more usually found on large farms. That capitalized intermediate and large farms seem destined to play a larger role in future production in Brazil is argued, but it is doubtful that the small farm and, by implication, the peasantry will “disappear” in the foreseeable future. |
