Agroplan Report on Vocational Training in Farm Management and Entrepreneurship


The Agroplan team have now published a report on vocational training in farm management and entrepreneurship across 5 countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom). A new European Union (EU) of twenty-five countries is faced with important agricultural and rural development challenges, but though the region maintains a common agricultural policy across all member states, most nations and many regions have widely differing economic, historical and social backgrounds and priorities. This report assesses the level of development in farm management and rural entrepreneurship across the five European countries, recommendations and a few thoughts for providers of training and advisory support services. Some of these issues are outlined below:



European Policy, Farm Management and Entrepreneurship

Farmers manage more than 80% of European land and while ownership has become a right they are also generally perceived amongst the wider population to have a duty of stewardship.

Generally across Europe there has been a steady, if faltering, shift in agricultural policy away from production, notably the move from the support of output prices to area and animal head payments, the introduction of the agri-environmental regulation and the introduction of the rural development regulations under Agenda 2000.

Changes in rural areas are reflected in relationship changes between agriculture and the local economy. But farmers are notoriously difficult to define within the overall descriptor “farmer”. Motivations and objectives often vary widely from economic to purely personal lifestyle and family goals and perceptions of land stewardship. Farming today is a risky business and often a lonely occupation. Many farmers are surviving on low levels of savings and low or non-existent profitability and many low cost efficient operations are still finding it difficult to compete. Those who survive will probably be good managers, aware of the factors impacting on their farm and on their livelihoods and are able to adapt, diversify, use technology and deal effectively with the risks of markets, prices, climate and domestic policy changes and so make appropriate changes to management and agricultural practices.

Markets, Planning and Technology

Perhaps unsurprisingly most farmers spend more than 85% of their productive time in the field and leave little extra for developing markets. But perhaps more surprisingly there is still little analysis made on farm of the productivity of assets such as land buildings or equipment or for considering possible ways of reducing major costs. Many farms face difficulties because they do not know how to plan or monitor effectively. Many farmers still consider marketing and proper record keeping as a luxury that only large enterprises can afford.

Arguably the agricultural sector has almost become entrepreneurially ossified through almost fifty years of production support and yet no agricultural product can be excluded from the challenge of entrepreneurial activity. Technology is available to farmers as never before and its use and availability is increasing often at an exponential rate. Yet while E-commerce clearly offers huge potential benefits to agribusinesses many have failed due to inexperience, lack of clear value added (over traditional trading approaches) or simply because of under utilisation. The uptake of electronic technologies in agriculture across Europe is comparatively slow when compared to other industrial sectors. (www.frelectra.gr).



Environment and Farm Diversification

The majority of Europeans believe wildlife to be especially important to the quality of life and see the loss of plants and animals and environmental pollution as particularly worrying issues. Biodiversity can be easily lost but and is difficult to regain. The countryside is increasingly becoming a place where more people want to spend their time and most are prepared to support farmers or land agents in regenerating threatened landscapes and habitats. Biodiversity may therefore provide economic benefits, particularly in relation to recreation and tourism. I

n future a farming system that is lacking in ecological integrity, economic viability or social responsibility ultimately may not be sustainable.

Although increasingly specialist and commercial farming is expected to continue to grow across Europe, the presumed efficiency of an agricultural sector dominated by full time specialist farmers is not inevitable and in many cases it can be assumed that the majority of farm households will often survive by means of a portfolio of income generating activities and diversification that will increasingly transform what constitutes a farm business.

The impact of these drivers varies from one country to the next and from one part of the countryside to another. Training provision will need to tackle global developments increasingly with local and customised solutions. Ultimately the survival and success of most family farmers will depend on farmers and not on the Government. A farm is secure when the farmer’s economic and social relationships are relationships of choice not necessity.




Training in Farm Management and Entrepreneurship

How do farm managers learn about management practices and new technologies, and where do they obtain information about opportunities for and threats to their business? Most changes are influenced by interaction with, and information from, a number of sources, including print and electronic media, peers, specialists and training activities. Informal learning is of particular importance for farmers and these include family, neighbours and networks of relationships with other farms and businesses.

Because so much learning in agriculture is self-directed and experiential, the delivery of training and advice will need to reflect this. Training activities that have clear and specific objectives, are locally based, led by credible facilitators, short, relevant, flexible, project based, farmer directed, delivered at the right time (seasonal), action orientated, and yet do not require a disproportionate amount of time to be spent on administration and bureaucracy, are particularly appropriate.

Training and information provision is best provided through a mix of media and techniques. Realistic case studies would serve as useful examples, particularly if they are delivered during practical workshops that include group discussions, visual/practical materials and demonstrations. For this reason Agroplan are currently developing a range of case studies and practical materials that cover issues related to:

• Farm business planning
  
• Marketing and added value
  
• Agri-product and farm diversification
  
• Agri-rural sustainability and the environment
  
• Producer groups and farmer to farmer initiatives

These materials will be made available through the Agroplan website for trainers and training providers.

As Europe changes and continues to develop new challenges and opportunities arise for all and not least farmers and rural communities.
Agroplan is aiming to help in addressing these challenges through the development of trainig, advisory and information programmes that aimed at encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship and sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods

The next step Contact us...

- A review of farm management and planning approaches and the extent of use of software packages

- An assessment of current thinking and future opportunities for encouraging greater innovation, entrepreneurship and use of ICT in Agriculture.

- The development and dissemination of new training packages, case studies and examples of good practice

The further development of partner networks and pan-European links between farm advisers, advisory organisations and farmers associations.

- Training of Country Trainers and specialist Agricultural advisers on farm management, production, planning, entrepreneurship and innovation and the use of ICT.

- Working closely with software providers and manufacturers of enabling technologies, to assist in the development and dissemination of information in the Agricultural sector.

- Encouraging greater certification of materials and courses among European Training Providers, in order to further improve farm management, production, planning, entrepreneurship and innovation.