Background
to the
Research
- The recent crisis in agriculture
has led European governments to restructure agricultural policy and
practice.
- This chapter considers Northern
Irish farmers' responses to this process, with a specific focus on
calls for greater economic diversity and land transfer.
Research
Approach
- In-depth interviews were carried out with
a group of farmers with holdings in North Ards, County Down, Northern
Ireland between 1990-1993.
Main Findings
- Reluctance to diversify is multi-faceted;
economic concerns range from concern about the limit of the tourist
market, the unpredictable nature of the market for the sale of alternative
agricultural goods, the possibility of adverse effects on the economic
cycle of the farm and a perception that official agricultural advisors
are still rooted in 'production mind set'.
- The decision to diversify is also affected
by the role that farming families have in the local communities in
North Ards; successful modern farming is considered to be a key route
to maintaining the integrity or public face of the family farm. Large
farming families are prominent in a number of local institutions.
- In North Ards, land transfer takes place
within the context of particularly high land prices. There are several
economic and social imperatives in holding land, chief amongst which
are providing for the family and maintaining the social composition
of the area. Traditionally land is not transferred outside the family
lineage or ethnic group.
- Land transfer by sale or rental is increasingly
considered as a means of financing educational and career opportunities
for children and siblings. The case study would suggest that the desire
of farmers to maintain social composition and land provision is incompatible
with the changing economic political and social climate.
- Almost all farmers in the case study represent
productionism as an era of the ruralite and Protestant and post-productionism
as urbanite and Catholic.
- The Farmers draw on Protestant non-conformity
and individualism to justify changing farm practice.
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