Becoming A Young Farmer: Young People’s Pathways Into Farming: Canada, China, India and Indonesia

This open-access book explores how young people in Canada, China, India, and Indonesia are pursuing farming livelihoods, challenging the notion that movement away from farming excludes future farming prospects. It utilizes a life-course perspective and highlights the voices of young farmers, making it valuable for scholars and students in agrarian studies, anthropology, development studies, gender studies, human geography, rural sociology, and youth studies.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 444 pages
Publication date: 09 November 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This open-access book is the result of a multi-country collaborative research project that focuses on Canada, China, India, and Indonesia. Its main objective is to address concerns about the generational sustainability of smallholder farming worldwide, which is strongly reflected in the current United Nations Decade of Family Farming. The book takes a unique approach by examining how young people continue to pursue a livelihood in farming, despite various factors that may lead them to leave the agricultural sector.

Using a life-course perspective, the book privileges the voices of young farmers to demonstrate that movement away from farming, such as time spent in education, migration, or non-farm work, does not necessarily exclude eventual farming futures. The book will be of great interest to scholars and students in various fields, including agrarian studies, anthropology, development studies, gender studies, human geography, rural sociology, and youth studies.

The research project involved in creating this book involved extensive fieldwork in each of the four countries, conducted over several years. The authors interviewed a diverse group of young farmers, including those who were still actively engaged in farming, those who had taken a break from farming, and those who had transitioned to other occupations. The authors also conducted surveys and analyzed data from government agencies, research institutions, and other relevant sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing young farmers in each country.

One of the key findings of the book is that young farmers are facing a range of challenges, including declining farm incomes, increasing competition from larger agricultural enterprises, and limited access to education and training opportunities. However, the book also highlights the resilience and adaptability of young farmers, who are finding innovative ways to adapt to changing circumstances and maintain their livelihoods.

For example, some young farmers are embracing sustainable agriculture practices, such as organic farming or agroforestry, to increase their profitability and reduce their environmental impact. Others are exploring new markets and value chains, such as direct-to-consumer sales or value-added processing, to add value to their products and increase their income. Additionally, some young farmers are using technology, such as mobile apps and social media, to connect with consumers and promote their products, and to access new markets and information.

Another important theme of the book is the role of government and other stakeholders in supporting young farmers and promoting sustainable agriculture. The authors argue that governments need to invest in education and training programs that are tailored to the needs of young farmers, and that they need to provide support for sustainable agriculture practices and initiatives. They also argue that private sector actors, such as agricultural companies, NGOs, and financial institutions, need to play a more active role in supporting young farmers and promoting sustainable agriculture.

In conclusion, this open-access book provides a valuable contribution to the literature on smallholder farming and youth livelihoods. It offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing young farmers in four different countries, and it highlights the resilience and adaptability of young farmers in the face of adversity. The book will be of great interest to scholars and students in various fields, and it will also be useful for policymakers and practitioners who are working to promote sustainable agriculture and support young farmers around the world.

Weight: 729g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031152320
Edition number: 1st ed. 2024