首页 | 本学科首页   官方微博 | 高级检索  
     


Organic farmers in islands: Agricultural management and attitude towards the environment
Authors:M. Kourouxou  G. Siardos  O. Iakovidou  K. Kalburtji
Affiliation:1. Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki, Greece;2. Laboratory of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki, Greece
Abstract:SUMMARY

This study explores differences among organic farmers who live in islands and have isolated small-size operations. The relationships between farmers' characteristics and attitudes and farm management were interpreted by studying how they manage their land, their attitudes towards the environment and alternative farming systems, and their involvement in organic farming. The research was carried out using questionnaires addressed to organic farmers on the island of Thassos. Nonlinear canonical correlation was applied for data analysis. This information could contribute to adjustment of policy decisions for on-farm diversification. Agricultural policy makers should approach organic farmers in northern Thassos (productive irrigated olive orchards with gentle slopes) by enacting standards to reduce the cost of alternative plant protection methods and promoting their products in order to maintain and expand organic farming. They should also approach organic farmers in southern Thassos (less productive, dry cultivated olive orchards with steep slopes, overgrazed and often abandoned) by providing them with the necessary information and appropriate agricultural know-how to effectively manage their farms. Organic farmers with stable off-farm income are more aware of environmental values and consider that they risk less than others in order to gain the benefits of alternative farming systems. However, they should attend training programmes to achieve economic success to allow them to continue farming organically.
Keywords:Organic olive tree cultivation  environmental attitudes  alternative farming systems  nonlinear canonical correlation analysis
设为首页 | 免责声明 | 关于勤云 | 加入收藏

Copyright©北京勤云科技发展有限公司  京ICP备09084417号