Policy challenges in reducing age imbalances in the EU agriculture
2011
Zawojska, A., Warsaw Univ. of Life Sciences (Poland). Dept. of Economics and Economic Policy
The paper shows the present situation and trends in age disparities between young and older farmers in the EU Member States regarding their share of farm holders and land use. It also reviews the existing Community support programmes aimed at improving age structures with focus on their implementation and effectiveness. Early retirement and Setting up of young farmers measures have mixed usage across the EU Member States. Those instruments have mainly contributed to acceleration of the process of intergenerational succession of agricultural holdings. However, there is still a tendency towards ageing of the farm holders. In the EU, overall young people (under 35 years) accounted only for 6% of the farm holders and occupied about 9% of the total UAA in 2007. About 1/3 of all farm holders were in the age of 65 and over. The politicians should look with urgency for additional instruments if young people are to be encouraged to take up a career in farming.
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