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PORTAIL D'INFORMATION GÉOGRAPHIQUE

Geographical aspects of the development and utilization of arable land area in Finland

Auteur :
HAKKILA, M.

Description :
The paper concentrates on observing changes in the area of arable land and in its utilization after World War II. The results are presented mainly cartographically. The area of arable land and rural settlement expanded until the mid-60's. After the wars, 310 000 hectares of arable land was cleared, and the total arable land area of Finland peaked in 1967, when the area was 2.75 million hectares. The main focus of the arable land and its agricultural production has always been in the southern and western parts of the country. The importance of agriculture has decreased considerably during the last few decades, nevertheless production has increased. Self-sufficiency was reached as early as the 1950's and in the 1960's over-production was already a considerable problem. From the late 1960's the number of actice farms has sharply begun to decline. The work in forestry is now highly mechanized and the opportunities for the farming population to this supplement their incomes have decreased. The deserting of farms is most pronounced in the remote districts of Northern and Eastern Finland. At present already 11 % of the total arable land area of Finland is uncultivated.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Fennia Helsinki, 1984, vol. 162, n°. 2, p. 217-235, Références bibliographiques : 54 réf.

Date :
1984

Langue :
Anglais
Droits :
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