Keeping young farmers in rural areas

Hantos, Krisztina

Keywords: ageing, young farmers, agricultural education, subsidies, agricultural information system

Agricultural subsidies alone cannot solve the aging problem of rural areas. In some cases enthusiasm is not enough, because a lack of financial resources prevents young farmers from launching enterprises. Isolation, lack of information and subsistence insecurity are all problems faced by young farmers, which need to be managed. It would be reasonable to extend the support scheme provided for new enterprises to also include those farms which have already been launched, but have not yet reached the size considered viable. Considering that the subsidies involve retrospective financing and that the majority of young farmers are lacking capital, increasing the amount of the advance payment would also be recommended. Young farmers could be further supported by providing subsidies for voluntary cooperation and by setting easier terms for purchasing land from the National Land Reserve, as well as by developing the rural infrastructure and a comprehensive agricultural education system, including management training.

Full article