Title: A taxonomy of entrepreneurial farmers

Authors: Gerard McElwee

Addresses: University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7RT, UK

Abstract: The paper develops a conceptual understanding of the farmer as entrepreneur and provides an innovative theoretical framework based on a modelling process and taxonomy of the farmer, which enables the complexities of the dynamic changing forces which act upon the life world of the farmer to be framed. A number of key themes emerge: Farmers are a particularly rich area for study in the area of entrepreneurial capability; the myths surrounding farmers| capability to be entrepreneurial require examination; farmers are businesspeople in that they run businesses, but in practice they do not necessarily have well-defined business skills; the barriers to becoming entrepreneurial for farmers are greater than in other sectors.

Keywords: farmer entrepreneurs; farmer taxonomy; entrepreneurial farmers; rural entrepreneurship; farming; modelling; business skills; barriers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2008.019139

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2008 Vol.6 No.3, pp.465 - 478

Published online: 30 Jun 2008 *

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