L'avenir de la population agricole dans l'Ouest de la France en mutation

Future of farming population in Western France. - The change undergone by the Western part of France since 1960 is characterized both by agricultural progress (increase in (productivity, income 'and farm-size) and by industrialization. For the future it is foreseeable that the rate of decrease in agricultural population in the west will tend to slow down. The economic optimum would require intensive animal production being located in these regions 'and justifies a greater number of farmers than elsewhere remaining there. This is possible if more young farmers settle there encouraged by the greater number of farm-units available, by greater consideration for agricultural activity and by the fact that fewer women have left the area than elsewhere.