Farmer attitudes towards converting to organic farming

1
Farmer attitudes towards converting to organic
farming

• Doris Läpple1, 2 and Trevor Donnellan1
• 1Rural Economy Research Centre, Teagasc, Athenry,
  Co. Galway
• 2Department of Economics, National University of
  Ireland, Galway
• 2nd December 2008

2
Overview of presentation

• Main objective and context
• Methodology
• Results
• Conclusion

3
Main objective

• Organic sector in Ireland is just over 1 of UAA
• (about 1,400 organic farms)
• ? government target 5 of UAA by 2012
• Why are more farmers not converting?
• Examine role that attitudes play and identify
  drivers barriers to the intention to convert to
  organic farming
• ? understand why farmers make decisions in favour
  or against organic farming

4
Context for this study

• Part of larger study
• Todays presentation is just a snapshot
• Only beginning detailed analysis at this point
• Survey of organic, ex-organic and conventional
  farmers
• Explain the decision to adopt or not to adopt
  organic farming over time with respect to a
  variety of factors
• e.g. economic, structural, socio-economic
• To compare groups and identify problems to
  provide a basis for improved policy intervention
• ?Focus today intention to convert of
  conventional farmers

context
5
Methodology Survey design and sample

• Preliminary work in advance of the survey
• 50 personal interviews
• farmers farm advisers
• Elicit true opinion of farmers about organic
  farming
• advantages/disadvantages, perceived problems,
  influence of others
• ? All statements are based on farmers beliefs
• Survey
• Structured questionnaire
• Sample size 181 conventional drystock farmers
• Collected through Teagasc National Farm Survey
  Dept

methodology
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Methodology Theory of planned behaviour

• receive higher prices
• Increase farm income

Attitude towards the behaviour
Intention to perform behaviour

• Family
• Farm advisers
• Other farmers

Subjective norm social influence
Behaviour
Producing organic meat on own farm within the
next five years

• Suitable farm conditions
• farming without using fertilizer

Perceived behavioural control
Identify influences on the intention to convert
using statistical methods
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ResultsIntention to convert

• Intention to convert to organic farming within
  the next five years is low
• mean 1.9, measured from 1 to 5
• Almost 75 of farmers scored a 1 or a 2
• Indicating a very low or a low intention to
  convert
• 6 of farmers scored a 4 or a 5
• Indicating considerable interest in going organic

results
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Results Attitudes- drivers and barriers of
adoption

• Neutral attitude towards conversion
• mean -0.09, measured from -2 to 2
• ? in general farmers do not have a bad
  perception about organic farming
• Drivers
• increasing farm income due to higher support
  payments
• receiving higher prices
• ? financial incentives
• Barriers
• Farmers perception of producing a product only
  rich people can afford
• ? Correlation coefficients show that the negative
  influence of this barrier dominates the
  positive influence of the drivers

results
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Results influence of others

• Farmers do not receive positive feedback from
  others
• mean -0.52, measured from -2 to 2
• Influence of other people or information sources
  
• None of these groups encourage farmers to convert
  
• Family
• Other farmers
• ? Most negative influence on conversion
• Correlation coefficients show strongest influence
  on the intention to convert of
• the farming press
• farm advisers
• ?But not a positive influence

results
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Results perceived problems

• Farmers have a negative view of their possibility
  to convert the farm and doubt their own technical
  ability
• mean -0.24, measured from -2 to 2
• Concern about
• Maintaining animal health based on prevention
• mean -0.61, measured from -2 to 2
• Uncertainty about
• Own knowledge and skills about farming
  organically
• mean 0.24, measured from -2 to 2
• Time/labour involved in organic farming
• mean0.17, measured from -2 to 2

results
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Conclusiontake home message

• 75 of conventional drystock farmers express low
  or very low intention to convert
• What do conventional drystock farmers think about
  organics?
• In general they themselves dont have strong
  opinions about organic farming
• But they perceive that others have a negative
  opinion
• They tend to lack confidence about the
  possibility of converting the farm their own
  technical ability to go organic

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ConclusionMessage for policy makers

• What can be done to increase the size of the
  sector?
• Continuing promotion of organic farming as a
  profitable alternative to conventional farming
• uptake most likely to be financially driven
• Raise level of knowledge of farmers about how to
  farm organically demonstrate that conversion is
  possible
• the farming press farm advisers
• Change perception of farmers that only rich
  people can afford to buy organic products
• information campaign that demonstrates to farmers
  that organics are consumed by a broader
  demographic

conclusion
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• Thanks for your attention