Agricultural Statistics

Abstract

THE International Institute of Agriculture, Rome, has now published the sixth of its economic commentaries, “The World Agricultural Situation in 1934–5” (price 25 lire). As in the preceding issue, the volume is divided into two parts, the first of which deals with world agriculture and the second with the individual policy and conditions in the different countries. Both sections contain a wealth of interesting material of which it is impossible to give more than the briefest outline. Under the first heading, an analysis is made of the more important changes and trends in world economy as influenced by national planning, together with a survey of the market conditions of the principal agricultural crops and livestock. The year under review was a period of adjustments and adaptations involved in the carrying out of schemes of planning and control rather than a period of new initiations in economic organization, the outstanding feature being the increasing development of economic autarchy, which in theory stands almost universally condemned. The effects of this tendency, economic, political and technical, are discussed at length, and it is shown that greater stability is now being sought by the formation of large economic combinations between qountries usually with close political associations. Further, the various forms of industrialization that are taking place in the so-called agricultural countries are shown to be producing far-reaching repercussions upon international economic relations. The information in the second part is principally concerned with Government measures for farm relief and the economic conditions of agriculture prevailing in the various countries. More than thirty countries are considered, information with regard to Austria, Portugal and Portuguese Colonies being included in this issue for the first time. Data for Argentina and Poland which were omitted in the last issue of the commentary are again included.