Farm household survival strategies and diversification on marginal farms

by: H Meert, G Van Huylenbroeck, T Vernimmen, M Bourgeois, E van Hecke

Journal of Rural Studies, Vol. 21, No. 1. (January 2005), pp. 81-97.

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Abstract

On marginal farms, and in agriculture in general, sustainability is largely guaranteed by a broad range of survival strategies, closely interlinked and embedded in the household structure of typical family farms. This paper reports results of a socio-economic study carried out among Belgian farmers, focusing specifically on the opportunities offered by different forms of diversification. Analyses from in-depth interviews indicate the possible role of new activities in the survival of many farms. The curative potential of this strategy is, however, strongly conditioned by the availability of capital within the household. Therefore, off-farm employment is often the most accessible strategy, not only for the survival of the household, but also for supplementing the income necessary to maintain the farm activities.

@article{citeulike:878814, abstract = {On marginal farms, and in agriculture in general, sustainability is largely guaranteed by a broad range of survival strategies, closely interlinked and embedded in the household structure of typical family farms. This paper reports results of a socio-economic study carried out among Belgian farmers, focusing specifically on the opportunities offered by different forms of diversification. Analyses from in-depth interviews indicate the possible role of new activities in the survival of many farms. The curative potential of this strategy is, however, strongly conditioned by the availability of capital within the household. Therefore, off-farm employment is often the most accessible strategy, not only for the survival of the household, but also for supplementing the income necessary to maintain the farm activities.}, author = {Meert, H. and Van Huylenbroeck, G. and Vernimmen, T. and Bourgeois, M. and van Hecke, E. }, citeulike-article-id = {878814}, doi = {10.1016/j.jrurstud.2004.08.007}, journal = {Journal of Rural Studies}, keywords = {belgium, micro, rural}, month = {January}, number = {1}, pages = {81--97}, posted-at = {2008-05-12 14:07:44}, priority = {2}, title = {Farm household survival strategies and diversification on marginal farms}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2004.08.007}, volume = {21}, year = {2005} }

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TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:878814 L3 - citeulike-article-id:878814 TI - Farm household survival strategies and diversification on marginal farms JF - Journal of Rural Studies VL - 21 IS - 1 SP - 81 EP - 97 N2 - On marginal farms, and in agriculture in general, sustainability is largely guaranteed by a broad range of survival strategies, closely interlinked and embedded in the household structure of typical family farms. This paper reports results of a socio-economic study carried out among Belgian farmers, focusing specifically on the opportunities offered by different forms of diversification. Analyses from in-depth interviews indicate the possible role of new activities in the survival of many farms. The curative potential of this strategy is, however, strongly conditioned by the availability of capital within the household. Therefore, off-farm employment is often the most accessible strategy, not only for the survival of the household, but also for supplementing the income necessary to maintain the farm activities. KW - belgium KW - micro KW - rural AU - Meert, H AU - Van Huylenbroeck, G AU - Vernimmen, T AU - Bourgeois, M AU - van Hecke, E PY - 2005/01// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2004.08.007 ER -

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