Brittany has traditionally suffered out migration, particularly of the younger population. So much so that the area was still under demographic pressure immediately after the end of the Second World War. Increases in farm sizes have reduced labour needs over the years. 235,000 farms in 1955, reduced to 175,000 in 1970 and to less than 80,000 in 1994 (Canevet, 1994). Four or five people per sq km were the areas worst recorded levels of population density within central Brittany. Low incomes and poverty increased emigration as over 1 million people left Brittany between 1860 and 1960. The possibilities of industries and increases in tertiary sectors looked bleak. So small peasant farms had no real choice but to try and intensify their crops and livestock.

MAP showing agricultural region in need of aid.

Brittany is an agricultural area, which had a very agricultural landscape.

Substantial removal of Bocage, changed the landscape in preparation for the intensification of th

Brittany has undergone a remarkable transformation from a traditionally peripheral region, to a dynamic agricultural area, with the added benefits of a growing industrial region. It's agricultural economy may not be as strong as implied, due to the susceptibility to government and European policies, sudh as the milk quota, which reduced jobs in the region. There is no room for growth in the area, so profit margins are on a slow decline. Canevet 1994, argues that concentration on quality finished products and not quantity of output is the way forward. Brittany's strong cultural and linguistic identity gives them a strong sense of pride, as they consider themselves Breton first and French second. This spirit has helped the area fight it's way out of relative poverty.

France is now the leading European producer of foodstuffs by value and sixth ranking in world terms (OECD, 1996)

Some common words found in the essay are:
Brittany Bocage, Brittany Bbc, Industralisation Brittany, Union EU, Scots' Ardagh, Brittany Low, Cannon Mitsibushi, ECU's European, War Increases, Centre Commun, central brittany, national average, agricultural economy, it's own, canevet 1994,
Approximate Word count = 1074
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)