Ministère de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation
The number of breeders specialising in beef cattle has fallen more slowly than that of other farmers. This farm population counts the greatest number of unmarried farmers. The growth in heards concerns pure breeds more than crossbreeds.
The recovery in bovine production in 2001 was sustained by market-clearing measures. Consumption and exports, disrupted during the first semester, recovered in the second semester, but they remain down compared to 2000.
The concentration of the production becomes more pronounced. Stockfarms of more than 1,000 swine account for two thirds of the livestock. For the same number of animals, labour requirements halved between 1988 and 2000.
Efforts to professionalise farms do not faMost rural tourism occurs outside of farms. Farm-based lodging facilities are mainly found in the South. vour the establishment of none-agricultural activities.
The number of farms declines in Martinique, in Guadeloupe and in la Réunion. With the clearing of forests and the arrival of new settlers, the number of farms increases in Guyane.
Stable farm incomes thanks to good prices for most farm products in 2001. Subsidies maintain the incomes of cattle breeders at their 1999 level. Sheep, swine and poultry farms again profit from good prices.
The concentration of slaughterhouses continues, even if it has slowed since 1994. One quarter of these establishments account for two-third of the production. Above all, the closings affect public abbatoirs.
The decrease in beef consumption, which started at the end of 2000, is stronger than this 1996 decrease. In this second "mad cow" crisis, retail prices are up while the prices paid to producers are down.
The incorporation of animal-based meal in industrial feed for farm animals, authorised for swine and poultry until the end of 2000, has been decreasing for several years. This meal is replaced by oilcakes, most often soya.
Farmers running organic farms are younger and better-educated than other farmers. They frequently employ farm workers, either on a permanent or seasonal basis. One-fourth of these farms process a part of their production.
Ministère de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation