Deep Roots

[

] 197

on the production of traditional meat and dairy products and

diversification into rural tourism.

Developing economic flexibility

Mixed farming and diversification aims to maximize the

potential utilization of the farm’s fixed assets to improve

production, efficiency and profitability. Opportunities to

enhance family farm income can also arise from career, family

and life experiences.

Social farming, for example, is a specific form of on-farm

diversification that enhances job opportunities, in particular

for women and young people. Very often a family member not

previously involved in the farm business joins and makes use

of farm facilities and livestock to develop and offer new services

related to sectors such as education, welfare and health.

Since many social farming initiatives are pursued by family

members other than the farm owner, they can obtain funds

through the farm and business development measure of the

EAFRD, which is further developed 2014-2020.

Case study:

The Coorevin Farm in county Tipperary, Ireland

is a family-owned medium-sized intensive livestock farm of

over 50 hectares. Padraig Moran and his family wanted to

enhance their income from rearing suckler cows and ewes

by diversifying into non-agricultural activities such as farm

tours and providing learning experiences for students and

other interested individuals and groups. An initial investment

of €33,000 was made, supported by €6,600 from the EAFRD

and €2,200 in national funds. Padraig’s agricultural experi-

ence allows him to offer hands-on instruction to advanced

students and adults, meeting a need that was not adequately

met by the existing syllabus for agricultural science education.

Farm tours are tailored to the specific needs of each group.

Since Padraig started the new activities at the Coorevin Farm,

the additional revenue generated has become an important

part of the family’s income.

Cooperatives and inter-professional organisations

Agricultural cooperatives can help family farms to over-

come the scale constraints inherent to smallholdings, while

enabling small farmers to respond more effectively to chang-

ing market demands. Participating farmers also have more

power and control over production than through contract

farming, making food security less vulnerable.

The increased access cooperatives provide to resources,

information tools and services encourages members to

increase their levels of food production, while reducing trans-

action costs, improving quality and creating jobs.

The CAP has supported producer cooperation working

through the Common Market Organisation

of products,

which has enabled improved coordination of specific supply

chains. The CAP provides a reinforced framework for producer

and other organizations, as well as support for the setting up

of producer groups. These should facilitate producer coop-

eration by granting legal certainty, financial support and

economic advantages to willing farmers. There are also new

opportunities through the European Innovation Partnership

Operational Groups that can enable new and existing coopera-

tives to explore and develop their own working practices and

penetrate new markets.

Case study:

The Peasant Evolution Producers’ Cooperative

was established in 2004 as a collective of small-scale produc-

ers in Dorset, in the south-west of England. Thirty-three small

Family farms are dominant in EU agriculture, and the CAP’s role in addressing the challenges they face will be key to assuring the sector’s future

Image: European Commission

eep

oots