"Death with boots on": Challenges faced by elderly farmers in the process of retirement and family succession

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21527/2237-6453.2024.60.15108

Keywords:

Resistance to retirement, succession in agriculture, bibliometric analysis, belonging

Abstract

The rural population and the managers of agricultural production units are aging and the generational renewal in the countryside is finding it difficult to be carried out. One of the central aspects of this difficulty lies in the resistance of older farmers to hand over property management to younger ones. The objective of this study was to analyze and understand the weaknesses and problems faced by elderly farmers in the face of the succession process and their withdrawal from the management of rural properties. Methodologically, bibliometric research was carried out, followed by an in-depth systematic review. Scopus was used as a database considering the following keywords "retirement" AND "succession" AND "farm". From the search and refinement of the documents, 34 documents resulted to be analyzed. It was found that older farmers have difficulties leaving the management and activities of the rural property, that is, they do not retire. Such problems exist, above all, because of the symbolic capital that the rural property represents for the older farmer and the negative social weight or judgment for those who withdraw because socially there is a consensus that good farmers do not retire. Such behavior has negative consequences in the context of the succession process, rural properties, and the development of agriculture. Government assistance through the payment of subsidies to elderly farmers or young successors would help with the intergenerational transfer of agriculture as well as semi-retirement.

References

ALCÂNTARA, Adriana. Envelhecer no contexto rural: a vida depois do aposento. 2016. Disponível em: http://repositorio.ipea.gov.br/handle/11058/9098. Acesso em: 18 out. 2022.

ALDANONDO OCHOA, A. M.; CASANOVAS OLIVA, V.; ALMANSA SÁEZ, C. Explaining farm succession: the impact of farm location and off-farm employment opportunities. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, v. 5, n. 2, p. 214-225, 2007. DOI: 10.5424/sjar/2007052-241

BAWACK, R. E. et al. Artificial intelligence in E-Commerce: a bibliometric study and literature review. Electronic Markets, p. 1-42, 2022. DOI: 10.1007/s12525-022-00537-z

BEECHER, M. et al. Careers in dairy: adolescents perceptions and attitudes. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension. v. 25, p. 415-430. 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2019.1643745

BERTONI, D.; CAVICCHIOLI, D. Process description, qualitative analysis and causal relationships in farm succession. CABI Reviews, n. 2016, p. 1-11, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/PAVSNNR201611043

BOURDIEU, P. A economia das trocas simbólicas. São Paulo: Perspectiva, 1982.

BOURDIEU, P. Avec Löic Wacquant; réponses. Paris: Seuil, 1992.

BREITENBACH, R.; CORAZZA, G. Formação profissional e a relação com a sucessão geracional entre jovens rurais, Brasil. Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud, v. 17, n. 2, p. 262-296, 2019.

BREITENBACH, R.; CORAZZA, G. Jovens rurais do Rio Grande do Sul/Brasil: Questões de gênero na sucessão geracional. Revista Brasileira de Gestão e Desenvolvimento Regional, v. 16, n. 3, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54399/rbgdr.v16i3.5889

BREITENBACH, R.; FOGUESATTO, C. R. Should I stay or should I go? Gender differences and factors influencing family farm business succession in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Land Use Policy, v. 128, p. 106597, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106597

CALUS, M.; VAN HUYLENBROECK, G.; VAN LIERDE, D. The relationship between farm succession and farm assets on Belgian farms. Sociologia ruralis, v. 48, n. 1, p. 38-56, 2008.

CONWAY, S. F. et al. Intergenerational Transfer of Family Farms: A View of the Human Side. 12th IFSA SYMPOSIUM, 2016a. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.01.016

CONWAY, S. F. et al. Cease agricultural activity forever? Underestimating the importance of symbolic capital, Journal of Rural Studies, v. 44, p. 164, p. 176, 2016b. DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.01.016

CONWAY, S. F. et al. Farmers Don't Retire: Reassessing How We Engage and Understand the “Older” Farmer's Perspective. Sustainability, Switzerland, 1º mar. 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052533

CONWAY, S. F. et al. Unraveling obstacles: the exercise of symbolic power in the complex arena of intergenerational transfer of family farming. Journal of Rural Studies, ago. 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2017.06.007

CONWAY, S. F. et al. On the contrary: uncovering the habitus of older farmers to help facilitate renewal in agriculture. Ruralis sociology, July. 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/soru.12355

CONWAY, S. F. et al. Till Death Do Us Part: Exploring the Irish Farmer-Farm Relationship in Adult Life Through the Lens of “Insideness”. International Journal of Agricultural Management, 1º jun. 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.292482

CONWAY, S. F. et al. Human dynamics and the intergenerational transfer process of farms in adulthood: a roadmap for future generational renewal in politics. International Journal of Agricultural Management, 22 ago. 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5836/jam/2019-08-22

DOWNEY, H.; THRELKELD, G.; THRELKELD, J. How do older Australian farming couples build lifelong generativity? A narrative exploration. Journal of Aging Studies, 1º Aug. 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2016.04.007

DOWNEY, H.; THRELKELD, G.; WARBURTON, J. What is the role of place identity in the retirement of older farming couples? Journal of Rural Studies, 1º feb. 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.12.006

DUESBERG, S.; BOGUE, P.; RENWICK, A. Retirement agriculture or sustainable growth – land transfer options for non-successor farmers. Land Use Policy, 1º feb. 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.12.007

FOGUESATTO, C. R. et al. Will I have a potential successor? Factors influencing family farming succession in Brazil. Land Use Policy, v. 97, 104643, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104643.

GHA. Ghana News Agency. Making agriculture attractive to the youth. Tuesday, mar. 20, 2012.

GLAUBEN, T.; TIETE, H.; WEISS, C. Agriculture on the move: exploring regional differences in farm exit rates in West Germany. Jahrbuch fur Regionalwissenschaft, Mar. 2006. DOI: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/23600

HAUTANIEMI, S. L.; GUTMANN, M. Land Use and Transfer Plans in the US Great Plains. Great Plains Survey, Sept. 2006. Disponível em: https://www.jstor.org/stable/23780061. Acesso em: 18 out. 2022.

HAYDEN, M.; MCNALLY, B.; KINSELLA, A. Exploring the state's pension provision policy for the farming community. Journal of Rural Studies, ago. 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2021.05.032

HOLLOWAY, L. et al. Futures of sustainable family farming: exploring family farming decision-making challenges through an emotional lens of “belonging”. Sustainability, Switzerland, 1º Nov. 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112271

INGRAM, J.; KIRWAN, J. Matching new entrants and retired farmers through agricultural joint ventures: Insights from the Fresh Start Initiative in Cornwall, UK. Land Use Policy, 29 June 2011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2011.04.001

ISTENIČ, M. Č.; HOČEVAR, D. K. Perception of intergenerational relationships on farms in Slovenia through the gender lens. 2009. Disponível em: https://oega.boku.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/Tagung/2008/Band_18/18_2__Cernic_Knezivic.pdf. Acesso em: 25 out. 2022

JANSUWAN, P.; ZANDER, K. K. What to do with the farmland? Coping with ageing in rural Thailand. Journal of Rural Studies, Jan. 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2020.12.003

KARARACH, G.; KOBENA, T. H.; FRANNIE, A. L. Regional integration policies to support job creation for Africa’s burgeoning youth population. The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) Working Paper #21, 2011.

KIMHI A; LOPEZ R. A note on farmers' retirement and succession considerations: Evidence from a household survey. Journal of Agricultural Economic, Jan. 1999. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1477-9552.1999.tb00802.x

KONTOGEORGOS, A.; CHATZITHEODORIDIS, F.; TSAMPRA, M. Agricultural policy and the environment protection through the eyes of new farmers: Evidence from a country of Southeast Europe. Procedia Economics and Finance, v. 19, p. 296-303, 2015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2212-5671(15)00030-1

LAGO, Adriano et al. Analyzing decision-making factors in the generational succession of rural youth. Journal of Co-operative Organization and Management, v. 10, n. 2, p. 100.187, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcom.2022.100187

MARCOUX, L.; HÉBERT Maxime. Retirement of the agricultural community: individual, family and social issues. Enfances, Familles, Générations, 15 jun. 2020.

MATTE, A. et al. Agricultura e pecuária familiar: (Des) continuidade na reprodução social e na gestão dos negócios. Revista Brasileira de Gestão e Desenvolvimento Regional, v. 15, n. 1, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54399/rbgdr.v15i1.4317

MBEINE, E. How Can We Attract the Ugandan Youth to Agriculture? In: Agriculture for Food and Income Security: Agricultural Sector Development Strategy and Investment Plan 2010/11–2014/15. Entebbe: FIT Uganda Ltd., Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, 2012.

MISHRA, A. K.; EL- OSTA, H. S. Effect of agricultural policy on succession decisions of farm households. Review of Economics of the Household, v. 6, p. 285-307, 2008. DOI: 10.1007/s11150-008-9032-7

MISHRA, A.; EL-OSTA, H.; SHAIK, S. Succession Decisions in US Family Farming Businesses. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Apr. 2010. DOI: https://www.jstor.org/stable/23243041

MOREIRA, P. S. C.; GUIMARÃES, A. J. R.; TSUNODA, D. F. Qual ferramenta bibliométrica escolher? Um estudo comparativo entre softwares. P2P & Inovação, 2020. Disponível em: https://brapci.inf.br/index.php/res/download/138660. Acesso em: 6 jul. 2022.

O‘CALLAGHAN, Z.; WARBURTON, J. No one to fill my shoes: Narrative practices of three ageing Australian male farmers. Ageing and Society, 1º mar. 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X1500118X

OSAWA, T.; KOHYAMA, K.; MITSUHASHI, H. Multiple factors drive regional agricultural abandonment. Science of The Total Environment, v. 542, p. 478-483. 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.10.067

PAGE, J. Youth, jobs, and structural change: Confronting Africa’s “Employment problem”. Working Paper Series, n. 155. African Development Bank, Tunis, Tunisia, 2012.

PECHROVÁ, M. Š.; ŠIMPACH, O. Do subsidies help young farmers? The case study of the Czech Republic. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11118/actaun202068010255

PETRICK, M.; WEISS, C. Probability and Time of Succession or Termination in Family Firms: A Regression Analysis of Change in Agricultural Households in Germany. Journal of Rural Studies, Jan. 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00036840601131722

PITTS, M. J. et al. Dialectical tensions underpinning family farm succession planning. Journal of Applied Communication Research. Res. v. 37, p. 59-79, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00909880802592631

POTTER, C.; LOBLEY, M. Ageing and succession on family farms: the impact on decision-making and land use. Sociologia Ruralis, v. 32, 1992. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9523.1992.tb00935.x

ROGERS, M. et al. Healthy Aging: Cultivating at twilight. Rural Society, 17 dic. 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5172/rsj.2013.22.3.251

SCOPUS. Elsevier. Start exploring. Disponivel em: https://www-scopus-com.ez47.periodicos.capes.gov.br/search/form.uri?display=basic. Acesso em: 02 jul. 2022

STOFFEL, J. A influência da agricultura familiar no desenvolvimento rural na Região Sul do Brasil. 2013. Tese (Doutorado) – Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento Regional Mestrado e Doutorado, Santa Cruz do Sul, 2013.

URBAN, B.; NONKWELO, R. P. Intra-family dynamics and succession planning in family businesses in South Africa: The daughter as a potential successor. Journal of Family Business Management, v. 12, n. 2, p. 266-279, 2022. DOI:10.1108/JFBM-08-2020-0084

WHEELER, S. et al. Handing down the farm? The increasing uncertainty of irrigated farm succession in Australia. Journal of Rural Studies, v. 28, n. 3, p. 266-275, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2012.04.001

Published

2024-03-25

How to Cite

Breitenbach, R., Galera, S. R., & Boscardin, M. (2024). "Death with boots on": Challenges faced by elderly farmers in the process of retirement and family succession. Development in Question Journal, 22(60), e15108. https://doi.org/10.21527/2237-6453.2024.60.15108

Issue

Section

Artigos