French term (dt. Halbpacht, Teilpacht) for the cultivation of land for an owner by someone who receives part of the product or harvest. This is an ancient form and was already enshrined in Roman law in antiquity. It proved useful after the Roman slaves were freed, as the newly freed peasants had neither land nor cash. This was also practised in Brazil and the USA when slavery was outlawed.
Métayage today
The landlord often directly influences cultivation, but the sharecropper is responsible for day-to-day operations. He also provides materials such as fertiliser and pest control products, as well as machinery if necessary. The term "sharecropping" comes etymologically from the word "half = moitié", which means a half share of the product. However, this can vary according to local and temporal tradition and the type of contract (today in France a maximum of one third).
Different forms
The sharecropper usually pays his share with the money he receives from the sale of his produce. If he hands it over directly to the landlord, it is called a rent in kind. In the past, this type of lease was widespread, but today it has declined considerably. In viticulture, this type of lease is called "vigneronnage" in France and "grangère" in French-speaking Switzerland. Such a lease is still common today in Burgundy (France). Another type of ground rent in France is called "fermage" (rent), where the rent is paid annually in banknotes. The various professions or functions in viticulture can be found under the keywords viticulture education and viticulture customs.
