ABSTRACT
The importance of agriculture in the economy of the under-developed countries as well as in all traditional economies is such that a larger amount of space has been devoted to its study here than to any other topic. The crucial part played by agriculture in the economic life of the under-developed countries is revealed in two ways. Firstly, at the present time the sector occupies between 65 and 75 per cent of the total active population, provides about 35 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product and accounts for about 65 per cent of the foreign trade of these countries, excluding trade in oil. 1 Secondly, the importance of agriculture, spotlighted by the percentages quoted above, decrees that it must play a major role in the process of ‘take off’. The latter would be inconceivable without the participation of such a substantial part of the population, who are, of course, also consumers.
