Implications and impacts of land use change (Adventures with agricultural statistics)

Abstract

Agrarian restructuring was last examined in detail by the author in 1992. This paper updates that earlier research by examining long-term changes in numbers and sizes of farms, the extent of smallholding subdivision, changes in farm types and changes in farm employment. The agricultural statistics are used to develop tables and charts showing the broad character of change and to highlight the problems deriving from continuing changes to the statistics themselves. The main changes include: farm numbers increased to 1989 then decreased; average farm size has decreased to 1993, then increased; there are more small farms and fewer medium-sized farms; smallholding subdivision has contributed to the increase in farm numbers when it occurred, meanwhile there has been a decrease in the number of significant farms; and while total farm labour (in labour units) has been relatively constant, working owners and permanent workers have decreased in number while unpaid family workers have increased in number.