Part-time farming in developed countries

Laurent Martens

European Review of Agricultural Economics, 1980, vol. 7, issue 4, 377-393

Abstract: Summary This article reviews recent literature on part-time farming in developed countries, and covers issues related to the role of agriculture in society. The contours of part-time farming are defined on the basis of four main components: the farm, the operator, his household and the off-farm employment, and take into account the underlying motives behind this activity. The significance of part-time farming is analysed and the divergent nature, both in definition and source of the statistical estimates is discussed. Attention is paid to the factors influencing future development, and the conclusion is reached that unless policy-measures actively discourage dual jobholders, part-time farming can be expected to at least maintain its present position. As far as the agriculture-related issues are concerned, five main topics are considered: management problems, family income distribution, factor-efficiency, mobility of land and labour, and the market-balance for farm products. In relation to regional development, part-time farming is seen as being particularly relevant in the solution of problems in the rural-urban fringe as well as in remote disadvantaged areas. Finally it is found that some policy-measures are biased in favour of full-time holdings.

Date: 1980
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