Large movements of population, revealing social movements which are much broader in space and time, accompany the implementation of this policy. Fieldwork and economic and historical research on the regional formation of Brazil and data from the 1970 and 1980 national censuses form the basis for a description of the Central Western region. A series of partly autonomous and highly diversified patterns of change is displayed by the papers. Original concepts such as that of the village plantation economy are used to organize the data. Analysis of population densities, yields and labour productivity into account revealed significant regular patterns and account for certain evolutions.
Conclusions present the type of agricultural policy which is desirable.
Important resources are mobilized through a complex system. Priority is given to French-speaking African countries and to agricultural research as well as medical research to a lesser extent. Reforms implemented between 1982 and 1985 have slightly modified the structure and the direction of this system, allowing among other things, a greater mobilization of the entire French scientific community, better coordination, and the start of geographical diversification, as well as a broadening of the research areas to be supported. These changes have been accompanied by an increased participation in the international research system and a renewal of the cooperation modes.