Changes in agricultural production in Brazil, 1947-65

Agricultural production grew more rapidly than population in the 1950"s, but crop yields remained low and traditional practices were followed with low levels of fertilization. Human labor is the only source of power on three-fourths of the farms. Agricultural output increased rapidly enough to meet rising demands for farm products resulting from population and income growth and to permit some exports. Agriculture has remained the principal economic activity and source of foreign exchange earnings in Brazil with coffee being the major export. The agricultural labor force rose about 2 percent a year, and output per farm worker rose almost as fast.