Are farmers businesspeople? Highlighting transformations in the profession of farmers in France
by Christele Couzy, Anne-Charlotte Dockes
International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business (IJESB), Vol. 6, No. 3, 2008

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to promote understanding of the current transformations in the profession of farmer. A literature review and 40 in-depth semistructured interviews were carried out in two regions of France. One hypothesis was that society's views and perceptions of farmers were of increasing importance for the farmers. This hypothesis was confirmed. Moreover, the diversity of models that the farmers use to define their profession is highlighted. Besides the usual agricultural references, the respondents focus on the 'entrepreneur' model, or on a personal, individualised project. Farming increasingly appears to be a job like any other. Six profiles of farmers were created by adding a more personal dimension through research into traditional or creative attitudes. The main transformations in the farming profession are threefold: farmers are getting more and more 'professional', with increasing value being placed on organisational, management and human resources skills; farmers increasingly take into account the expectations of society when defining their job; and they increasingly identify themselves as businesspeople.

Online publication date: Mon, 30-Jun-2008

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business (IJESB):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com