Motivation and intentions of farmers as regards the development of multifunctional agriculture in microregions of Northern and Eastern Hungary

Abstract

There are an increasing number of references in the literature on the significance of the role of farm households and farm families in the development of multifunctional agriculture. The motivation and intentions of 104 farmers in three LEADER micro-regions in Northern and Eastern Hungary with respect to the present and future structures of their farms (including the expansion of non-agricultural activities and functions) were investigated using questionnaires and narrative interviews. Almost two-thirds of the respondents spoke of the existence of non-agricultural activities and functions, but few of these were market-driven. The farmers ranked the steps that should be taken to increase multifunctionality in their own micro-regions in order of importance and indicated which organisations they thought would be most competent for their implementation. They also noted what factors promoted or inhibited multifunctionality within their own farms.multifunctional agriculture, LEADER, rural economy, interviews, Hungary, Community/Rural/Urban Development,