Page 426 - 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. 426
integr ated peasant economy in a compar ative perspective
economies is no longer the main activity and source of income in villag-
es for rural families. As demonstrated by Lerman, Serova, and Zvyagintsev
(2008) for two Russian regions, rural families have diversified non-agricul-
tural income through both possible channels: non-agricultural wage em-
ployment and non-farm self-employment. They prefer wage employment
due to the relative security rather than more risky individual entrepreneur-
ship in a less stable institutional environment. Van der Ploeg and Jingzhong
(2010) present multiple jobs of household members in rural villages. They
compare and make links between China’s peasant economy in rural areas
– in a peasant village in the Hebei Province – and the wider urban (glob-
al) economy. Among them exists circular flows that link towns of migrated
family members and the countryside.
A special source of incomes into rural areas can be inflows of remit-
tances from household members, which have (temporarily) migrated to
more economically developed, higher wage countries. This phenomenon in
diversification of household incomes has been observed in different parts
of the world, such as for example in Latin America (Fajnzylber and López
2007), as well as played an important development role particularly in low
wage and developing countries.
Ellis (1998) defines the livelihood diversification strategy of rural hold-
ings in developing countries. It is defined as the development process by
which agricultural households and rural families establish a diverse port-
folio of different economic activities and social support capabilities. They
are targeting individuals and households. Their aim is to provide surviv-
al support, improve livelihood, security, living conditions and standards
of rural families. The development process is linked to poverty alleviation,
to improve income distribution, increase farm output and improve gen-
der participation. To achieve this, a crucial factor is the removal of main
constraints, widening and deepening of opportunities for diversification of
employment and incomes.
6. The Slovenian case
Our focus is on conceptual issues related to on- and off-farm employment
and income diversification activities of agricultural holdings and rural fa-
milies with application to Slovenian practices. The evolution of Sloveni-
an agricultural holdings and family farms shares some similarities with
historical evolution and the emergence of a variety of survival strategies.
They are particularly related to small-scale individual or family farms aro-
424
economies is no longer the main activity and source of income in villag-
es for rural families. As demonstrated by Lerman, Serova, and Zvyagintsev
(2008) for two Russian regions, rural families have diversified non-agricul-
tural income through both possible channels: non-agricultural wage em-
ployment and non-farm self-employment. They prefer wage employment
due to the relative security rather than more risky individual entrepreneur-
ship in a less stable institutional environment. Van der Ploeg and Jingzhong
(2010) present multiple jobs of household members in rural villages. They
compare and make links between China’s peasant economy in rural areas
– in a peasant village in the Hebei Province – and the wider urban (glob-
al) economy. Among them exists circular flows that link towns of migrated
family members and the countryside.
A special source of incomes into rural areas can be inflows of remit-
tances from household members, which have (temporarily) migrated to
more economically developed, higher wage countries. This phenomenon in
diversification of household incomes has been observed in different parts
of the world, such as for example in Latin America (Fajnzylber and López
2007), as well as played an important development role particularly in low
wage and developing countries.
Ellis (1998) defines the livelihood diversification strategy of rural hold-
ings in developing countries. It is defined as the development process by
which agricultural households and rural families establish a diverse port-
folio of different economic activities and social support capabilities. They
are targeting individuals and households. Their aim is to provide surviv-
al support, improve livelihood, security, living conditions and standards
of rural families. The development process is linked to poverty alleviation,
to improve income distribution, increase farm output and improve gen-
der participation. To achieve this, a crucial factor is the removal of main
constraints, widening and deepening of opportunities for diversification of
employment and incomes.
6. The Slovenian case
Our focus is on conceptual issues related to on- and off-farm employment
and income diversification activities of agricultural holdings and rural fa-
milies with application to Slovenian practices. The evolution of Sloveni-
an agricultural holdings and family farms shares some similarities with
historical evolution and the emergence of a variety of survival strategies.
They are particularly related to small-scale individual or family farms aro-
424
