Knowledge needs of young farmers in EU-28 Pilot Project Exchange Programmes for Young Farmers Marie-Jose Zondag, Ecorys Informal Meeting of the Informal Meeting of the Directors for Rural development Malta, 23 March 2017
Contents • The pilot project • The needs of young farmers • Conclusions • Recommendations
The Pilot Project Objectives: 1. Assessment of specific needs of young farmers across the EU 2. Overview existing exchange schemes for young farmers 3. Identify effective and efficient results of exchange schemes 4. Recommendations on the design, implementation and delivery of exchange programmes and schemes Approach: Approach: • Literature review on needs of young farmers • Interviewed variety of stakeholders • Interviewed 2 205 young farmers, around 75 per country • Focus group per Member State • Interviewed 22 exchange schemes (manager, host, participant) • Check by representative of focus group • Disseminated at final conference of 15-16 October 2015 in Brussels
Why focus on young farmers • Young farmers can contribute the most to fostering innovation and resource-efficiency (Dellapasqua, 2010) • Overview of CAP reform 2014-2020: 14% of EU farmers are younger than 40 years of age (European Commission, 2013) • Farmers face a lot of challenges: High investments in the start-up phase, • Farmers face a lot of challenges: High investments in the start-up phase, difficulties in accessing finance and small turnover in the first years, prolonged generation renewal and diminished access to land can reduce the interest of young farmers in entering into te sector • Training should be fine-tuned to the (knowledge) needs of young farmers: Appropriate technical and economic training
Needs of young farmers in EU-28 EU-28
% young farmers having difficulty to obtain land
Knowledge needs of interviewed young farmers Obtain specific technological knowledge necessary for the farm Develop a farm strategy Skills related to applying for subsidies/ grants/ credit Financial skills Management skills Communication skills Networking skills/ ability to create partnership Resource and nature/ environment management Marketing skills Skills related to the improvement of animal welfare Foreign languages 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% New MS EU15 All countries EU-28
% young farmers who like to develop… entrepreneurial skills technological & managerial skills
% young farmers who obtain knowledge through… e-learning, social media, e-discussions searching on internet
Information sources for young farmers EU-28
% young farmers obtaining knowledge from… Other farmers Farmer associations
% young farmers using exchange schemes to obtain knowledge
Hindrances for obtaining information Lack of time EU-28
Awareness and participation in exchange scheme % young farmers who think positive % young farmers who actually of exchange scheme participated in exchange scheme
Most important hindrances for joining an exchange scheme Lack of time No replacement on my farm Lack of money Language barrier Lack of knowledge 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% EU-28 New MS EU15 All countries
Conclusions on needs of young farmers • Knowledge needs are influenced by the available knowledge infrastructure and education system in a country • Knowledge needs are highest in new Member States • The needs are highest in more intensive, specialised agricultural sectors and in less favourable areas • Higher educated young farmers have more interest in acquiring • Higher educated young farmers have more interest in acquiring knowledge and participating in exchange scheme • Legal status of the young farmer influences his knowledge needs and availability for exchange • Land availability is the biggest need of young farmers, followed by access to credits, subsidies and qualified labour
Conclusions on needs of young farmers Information sources of young farmers • Internet , field days or excursions, fairs and individual advice are the most popular knowledge sources • Internet discussions, online-training, e-learning and social media less important • Other farmers and farmers associations are the most important sources where the knowledge infrastructure is less organized organized Identified needs for exchange schemes • Awareness of knowledge needs is limited • There is a positive attitude & high intention to join • Participation is however low (9-23%) • Lack of time , replacement and costs are main hindrances
Recommendations for young farmers • Improve communication and publicity to make young farmers aware of exchange schemes • Prepare a transparent and complete overview of available schemes • Allow further study on the effects and impact of exchange schemes • Optimize the allocation of RDP funds to allow use of Erasmus for • Optimize the allocation of RDP funds to allow use of Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs and other exchange schemes • Facilitate the start-up of exchange schemes • Take away legal barriers on visa, work permits for trainees etc • Offer a farm replacement service to improve participation rates
Recommendations for exchange schemes • Study young farmers’ changing needs continuously and be flexible in your offer • Improve health, liability insurances for hosts, participants • Offer language courses to improve participation rates • Allow easy replacements in case of mismatches between host and participant and participant • Keep administrative burden low through combinations of internet and face-to-face selection steps • Expectation management is important key to satisfied hosts and participants! • Organise your alumni and cherish their energy and experience for future recruitment and management.
Thank you! More information Website with reports: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/external- studies/index_en.htm DG AGRI DG AGRI agri-evaluation@ec.europa.eu Project manager from Ecorys Marie-Jose Zondag Marie-Jose.Zondag@ecorys.com +31 10 453 88 00
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