Labour productivity and economy in herbivore rearing: concepts, analysis and stakes ; Productivité du travail et économie en élevages d'herbivores : définition des concepts, analyse et enjeux

Abstract

National audience ; Labour productivity in agriculture has grown faster than the other sectors of the economy over the last fifty years. Volume production of the branch was multiplied by 2.2 from 1955 to 2010, thanks to the increasing use of input and a more important mobilization of capital (equipment and buildings). At the same time the agricultural labour force decreased from 31 to 3.4% of total employment. Today, subsidies have a decisive role in the upholding of farm income per worker. The analysis of labour productivity for cattle, sheep and goat productions shows that the economic indicators are not necessarily linked to an increase in physical productivity. There are differences in physical productivity of labour between systems and production sectors. In a favourable economic situation, systems with high physical productivity of labour get the best income, but when the economic situation becomes unfavorable these systems appear financially weak and reveal their low resilience capability. The consistency of the production system and the optimization of means of production always appear as a determinant of economic performance. The distribution of productivity gain between the different actors in the sector (producers, agricultural and food industries, trade and consumer) and the choice of government will remain decisive for farm orientation. ; De tous les secteurs de l'économie, c'est l'agriculture qui a connu l'accroissement le plus rapide de la productivité du travail au cours des cinquante dernières années. La production en volume de la branche a été multipliée par 2,2 entre 1955 et 2010, grâce à l'utilisation croissante des intrants et à la mobilisation d'un capital toujours plus important (matériel et bâtiments). Sur cette même période, la population active agricole est passée de 31 à 3,4 de l'emploi total. Les subventions jouent aujourd'hui un rôle déterminant dans le maintien du revenu agricole par actif. L'analyse de la productivité du travail pour les filières bovine, ovine et caprine montre que ...