Projects / Programmes
Potentials and obstacles for supplementary activities development on farms in Slovenia
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.03.08 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
Economics of agro-food processing and rural development |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S187 |
Social sciences |
Agricultural economics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 4.01 |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
supplementary activities, Slovenia, economic efficiency
Researchers (6)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Supplementary activities, as a form of diversification of income on the farm, are important contents of the professional and scientific discussion both in Slovenia and abroad. The common denominator of several studies of agricultural economists, geographers, rural sociologists, economists and others is that:
- supplementary activities play an important role in the rational use of natural, human and financial resources on the farm
- represent an additional source of income,
- supplementary activities are dynamic category: both at the farm level as well as at the level of the village or municipality, as well as from the perspective of supporting policies.
However, the available research on the topic of supplementary activities on the farm shows significant differences because:
- each country has different supplementary activities embedded in its legislative framework, ie. in fiscal and social policies,
- each country (in some places there are also differences from a regional perspective, ie. different approaches of provinces, cantons or departments) differently classifies activities, which can be referred to as "supplementary"
- countries have very different "history" promoting diversification of income on and off the farm.
However, as the supplementary activities are a kind of "common subset" of a variety of sources in the implementation of the basic agricultural activities on the farm and in the design of the scheme of income on the farm, it is understandable that the studies address them often partial and marginal: in the foreground do not impose supplementary activities as such, but often only in the context of the research of something else.
The main objectives of the proposed project proposal are:
- Prepare expert basis for changes in regulation of supplementary activities on the farm
- Prepare a comparative analysis of the scope, conditions and income efficiency of supplementary activities on the farm versus the same actions of other market participants in Slovenia (SP, company) and to compare the conditions for carrying out supplementary activities in Slovenia, Austria and Italy,
- Propose and justify a delimitation between agricultural activity and supplementary activity, comparable to the method of delimitation in comparable countries (Austria, Italy, etc.)
- Analyse the impact of the implementation of supplementary activities on farms after amending the Rules on supplementary activities on farms,
- Identify appropriate taxation and the social security contributions, which will enable the appropriate development of supplementary activities on farms,
- Analyse models of targeted marketing programs for selected target groups and promotion models, and make recommendations for achieving greater efficiency.
A comprehensive overview of the development of supplementary activities in Slovenia suggests three stages of development:
(1) The deployment phase (from 80es up to 2000);
(2) Phase of quantitative and qualitative growth (2000 to 2015);
(3) Stage of self-regulation and strengthening links with primary agricultural activity (from 2015 onwards).
Starting from the initial definition of research topics, the objectives of the project and presented literature review, we will focus our research on answering the following research questions:
1. What are the differences in the scope, conditions and income efficiency of supplementary activities and comparable registered holders of related economic activities?
2. On the basis of what criteria it is possible to establish a clear separation between supplementary activity on the farm and comparable activity by the registered economic entities?
3. What are the effects of changes of the formal conditions for registration of supplementary activities on the implementation of supplementary activities on farms?
4. What kind of load represents the existing system of contributions and taxes for the economic success of supplementary activities?
5. Are there models of targeted marketing that hav
Significance for science
As it is evident from the presented project problem definition (paragraph 13 of the application) and a literature review (paragraph 14 of the application) in the field of the development of supplementary activities for farms in Slovenia and elsewhere is still lacking of knowledge and relevant information.
The proposed project will contribute to the development of science and profession in accordance with the plan of dissemination of project results, as presented in paragraph 16, which covers both scientific as well as professional level. Any new content that will emerge during the project implementation and will represent a new challenge for science and profession, we will propose to become the content of the new research and development projects in Slovenia and beyond.
As the members of the project team are actively engaged in teaching process shall the research results be directly included in the teaching process.
Significance for the country
Supplementary activities are in the implementation of the basic agricultural activities on the farm and in the design of the scheme of income on the farm a kind of "common subset" of a variety of sources, which studies address mostly partial and marginal: in the foreground do not impose supplementary activity as such, but often in the context of something other (eg. the development of tourism in rural areas, strengthening local communities, etc.), which quickly leads to a misunderstanding of the importance of supplementary activity and potential of their competitiveness relative to comparable registered economic activity. Therefore, the project will, with the corresponding capture of the diversity in the implementation of supplementary activities that are present in Slovenia and the definition of demarcation criteria between supplementary activities, such as adding value to basic agricultural activities and diminishing of seasonal labor surplus, and comparable registered economic activities, contribute to the creation of an adequate understanding of the contribution supplementary activities to the economic development of the society.
The proposed content of the project will provide a basis to address these challenges and thus have an impact on the economics of individual farms and farming industries as a whole.
Project results will serve farmers, agricultural advisors in selecting and deciding on the introduction of supplementary activities and experts and the Ministry in shaping policies and actions support in development of supplementary activities. The possibility of transferring knowledge into practice will be direct, since it is expected, that the project is designed on the basis of the actual needs and the situation in practice. Acquired knowledge and recommendations will also support the economically efficient implementation of complementary activities
Most important scientific results
Final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report
