São Paulo – Agricultural productivity in Brazil increased by 3.6% per year from 1975 through 2010, according to a survey conducted by professionals from the University of Campinas (Unicamp) and the Institute of Applied Economic Research (Ipea) and released this Friday (14th). It has multiplied by 3.7 over the 35-year period, twice as fast as in the United States, another major grain producing country.
The survey also shows that during this period, Brazil has also maintained its agricultural production highly concentrated in a few properties, with 10% of the facilities accounting for 85% of the gross production value. The survey was conducted by Unicamp doctoral Economics student Armando Fornazier, and Ipea Planning & Research technician José Eustáquio Vieira Filho.
Agricultural productivity calculations in the survey concern increased product quantity that is not explained by an increase in production inputs, but rather by efficiency gains, which basically depend on scientific and technological development. According to the authors, the modernization of agriculture in Brazil occurred at a later point in time than that of American agriculture.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
