AGRICULTURE, RURAL SOCIETY AND THE LAND QUESTION IN PORTUGAL

The paper focuses on the current agricultural situation, the dynamics of rural society, land use and the land issue. Agriculture in Portugal is not competitive in the European context. Many households try to su pplement farm income with off-farm work. The future of rural society i s no longer determined by farming because most of the rural population is engaged in other activities, It is pointed out that the land issue has lost its relevance as a factor in the political and social transf ormations of Portuguese society.