Contradictions of agricultural policy - Having briefly recalled what have been so far the main constraints — economic, social and political — of agricultural policy, both at national and international level, this article identifies the contradictions of present policies and tries to give an answer to the questions arising when discussing the future of agriculture. The concepts of growth, of parity and of protection and questions such as : What is agriculture ? Who is a farmer ? are analysed. The article proceeds with the discussion of a policy framework for the 19&0's which would insert agriculture on the one hand in a policy for the entire agri-business complex and on the other hand in a policy for resources development and conservation. The article stresses also the need to develop a policy for all the under-privileged, irrespective of the professional group to which they belong.
