Le débat sur le productivisme

This debate bears on the analysis of the development process in French agriculture since the end of the 1950-ties. The socioeconomic situation which was drastically changed by the crisis may not allow a process where a more and more expensive and scarse capital continues to drive farm labour towards sectors with severe unemployment. The main issues of the debate are : the capital necessary for a « productivistic » system, the marginalisation of certain areas, the expansion of production structures, the intensification of animal production (especially dairying) and plant production through biological progress... the impact of national and international outlets on production systems and the deference of farm incomes, the farmers' claims to better living and working conditions, less foreign dépendance of the food and farm industry... On an aggregate level, the objectives appear inconsistent. In fact, it is the coherent choice of ways and means which will settle point by point the debate on « productivism ».