Farmers and agricultural businesses increasingly derive a large part of their income from sources other than livestock or arable farming alone. This is the result of a survey presented Thursday by publishing house Agrio and Wageningen University & Research.
The survey carried out this summer shows that nowadays half of agricultural companies also derive their income from things such as agrotourism or nature management. In addition, some farmers more often have a care farm or earn from energy production with wind turbines or solar panels. In 1995, when the last large-scale survey was conducted, that percentage was still 22 percent.
According to those involved in the study, it is good that more attention is now being paid to the various activities at agricultural companies. “In the past year, the image in the media was mainly dominated by the movement that focuses on specialization and scaling up,” says Professor of Rural Sociology Han Wiskerke. “Our research shows this to be just one of many trends.”
The diversification is also good for employment, especially at companies near cities or in tourist areas, the study shows. The motivation of many farmers is dissatisfaction with the income from agricultural activities. “Making ends meet purely from agriculture is difficult,” says Wiskerke. In 2020, only a quarter of the participating companies will be completely dependent on agriculture. The remainder supplements the income with other activities.
According to Wiskerke, this can be explained in various ways; as a “sign of dire necessity”, but also as “an expression of a changing view on what is good and / or future-proof agricultural entrepreneurship”.
The research was conducted digitally among twelve hundred farmers in July and August by Geelen Consultancy on behalf of the publishing house Agrio and Wageningen University & Research.
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