Page 419 - Panjek, Aleksander, Jesper Larsson and Luca Mocarelli, eds. 2017. Integrated Peasant Economy in a Comparative Perspective: Alps, Scandinavia and Beyond. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 419
pluriactivity, part-time farming, farm diversification ...
gests market driven relaxation of a traditionally strong link between family
land ownership and family land operation. As a result of this, land mar-
ket and land leasing processes are concentrated on in-land operation with
a greater number of land owners than land operators. This pattern in devel-
opment is similar to some western European countries, where a substan-
tial percentage of land use is on rented land such as in Belgium and France.
A great percentage of agricultural holdings in Slovenian rural areas
have traditionally combined on- and off-farm employment and income
generating activities (Knific and Bojnec 2015a). These employment and
income diversification patterns of agricultural holdings in economic de-
velopment, are consistent with similar developments in some developed
countries such as France (Campagne, Carreère, and Valceschini 1990), the
neighbouring Italy (Bull and Corner 1993), Japan (Francks 1995), Ireland
(Kinsella et al. 2000), developing countries (Ellis 2000) and China (van der
Ploeg and Jingzhong 2010). Therefore, on- and off-farm employment with
associated on- and off-farm income sources has become one of substan-
tial characteristics in the evolution of multiple jobs in agricultural holdings
and in rural areas in their survival strategies, in competitive local and glob-
al economic environments.
A body of the theoretical, conceptual and empirical literature and
practices have developed on different concepts and characteristics of pluri-
activity, part-time farming, farm diversification and integrated and inclu-
sive rural household development in contemporary economics. In several
countries, including Slovenia, family farming is defined by law (Graeub et
al. 2016). Definitions of family farms differ between countries. There is also
a considerable diversity of family farms globally. In general, family farmers
perform farming activities mainly for self-cultivation: own the land where
they produce with family members, ensure minimal income from agricul-
tural activities and perform multifunctional roles in rural areas.
The objectives of this paper are to present different concepts of fam-
ily farm and agricultural holding diversification. While the aim is to de-
velop a unified conceptual approach, the current stage of the research il-
lustrates large theoretical complexity and practical varieties in evolution
between countries. This complexity and specific situation is illustrated in
the case of more recent evolution on family farms or agricultural hold-
ings, diversification in parts of hilly and mountainous areas in Slovenia, fo-
cusing on the municipalities of Gorenja vas-Poljane and Škofja Loka. It is
argued that farm diversification and integrated and inclusive rural house-
417
gests market driven relaxation of a traditionally strong link between family
land ownership and family land operation. As a result of this, land mar-
ket and land leasing processes are concentrated on in-land operation with
a greater number of land owners than land operators. This pattern in devel-
opment is similar to some western European countries, where a substan-
tial percentage of land use is on rented land such as in Belgium and France.
A great percentage of agricultural holdings in Slovenian rural areas
have traditionally combined on- and off-farm employment and income
generating activities (Knific and Bojnec 2015a). These employment and
income diversification patterns of agricultural holdings in economic de-
velopment, are consistent with similar developments in some developed
countries such as France (Campagne, Carreère, and Valceschini 1990), the
neighbouring Italy (Bull and Corner 1993), Japan (Francks 1995), Ireland
(Kinsella et al. 2000), developing countries (Ellis 2000) and China (van der
Ploeg and Jingzhong 2010). Therefore, on- and off-farm employment with
associated on- and off-farm income sources has become one of substan-
tial characteristics in the evolution of multiple jobs in agricultural holdings
and in rural areas in their survival strategies, in competitive local and glob-
al economic environments.
A body of the theoretical, conceptual and empirical literature and
practices have developed on different concepts and characteristics of pluri-
activity, part-time farming, farm diversification and integrated and inclu-
sive rural household development in contemporary economics. In several
countries, including Slovenia, family farming is defined by law (Graeub et
al. 2016). Definitions of family farms differ between countries. There is also
a considerable diversity of family farms globally. In general, family farmers
perform farming activities mainly for self-cultivation: own the land where
they produce with family members, ensure minimal income from agricul-
tural activities and perform multifunctional roles in rural areas.
The objectives of this paper are to present different concepts of fam-
ily farm and agricultural holding diversification. While the aim is to de-
velop a unified conceptual approach, the current stage of the research il-
lustrates large theoretical complexity and practical varieties in evolution
between countries. This complexity and specific situation is illustrated in
the case of more recent evolution on family farms or agricultural hold-
ings, diversification in parts of hilly and mountainous areas in Slovenia, fo-
cusing on the municipalities of Gorenja vas-Poljane and Škofja Loka. It is
argued that farm diversification and integrated and inclusive rural house-
417
