The composition of production in the expansion process of the Brazilian agricultural frontier

Abstract

In this paper we analysed the growth process in the agriculture of Brazil’s Center-
West region during 1977/84 as compared with the one for the older South and Southeast
regions. Emphasis was given to the causal factors of the crop composition in the recent
past as well as the economic variables likely to be important in the near future. Our conclusion
indicated the difficulties faced by the production of domestic foods as compared
to exportables and sugarcane in the Center-West region, mainly because of an unbalanced
pattern of technical innovations and a very favorable exchange rate policy. A compensatory
policy would then be required to achieve the objective of increased domestic food production.

JEL Classification: Q11; Q13; Q18; R14.