Factors Affecting Farmers’ Participation in Agri‐environmental Measures: A Northern Italian Perspective

Abstract

Agri‐environmental measures play an important role in Italian rural areas, as shown by the financial commitment to the Rural Development programmes. However, in contrast with other European Union (EU) countries, policy‐makers still have limited experience on how farmers approach environmental incentive schemes. This paper casts new light on this issue from a northern Italian perspective. The rationale of the farmers’ decision‐making process is explored using two multinomial models. The first explains the probability of non‐participation or participation in one of three specific agri‐environmental measures. The model outcomes show that labour‐intensive farming types and high dependency of household income on farming activity constrain farmers’ participation, whereas previous experience, easy‐to‐implement environmentally friendly farm practices and adequate compensation of extra costs encourage participation. The second model explores the effect of farmers’ attitudes and beliefs on their predispositions towards participation in any of the schemes. The results highlight that, besides income factors, the farm's future in the business, and the relationship with neighbouring farmers and their opinions on environmentally friendly practices all have significant effects on adoption of agri‐environmental measures. The paper concludes by suggesting that farmers’ attitudes and beliefs, as well as the local behavioural influences, have to be taken into account when designing and communicating agri‐environmental measures.

Factors Influencing Farmers’ Willingness to Participate in Wetland Restoration: Evidence from China

“…There is a rich literature that describes individual participation decisions in environmental programs [8,[11][12][13][14]. In this review, we focus on empirical studies analyzing participation incentives and identifying factors affecting wetland restoration program participation (see Table 1 for more details).…”

Farmers’ Participation in Territorial Planning: A Methodological Approach for the Case Study of Huerta de Valencia

“…First section is inspired to questionnaire proposed for VI Italian Agricultural Census [14]. In the second section, using the approach proposed by De Francesco et al [4], the questionnaire investigates farmers' willingness to participate to sustainable agricultural management contract. Questions regarding opinion on "Banco de tierras" project and direct sale complete the questionnaire.…”

Agriculture and the environment in the Nordic countries

“…Battershill and Gilg (1997) found that the attitudinal dispositions of farmers were more important than their 'structural' constraints in influencing farmers' response to agricultural policy and Davies and Hodge (2006) found that attitudinal factors significantly determine the acceptability of cross compliance, and that structural and socio-demographic factors were considerably less important. Defrancesco et al (2008) report that besides income factors, farmers' opinions on environmentally friendly practices have significant effects on adoption of agri-environmental measures. Greiner and Gregg (2011) found that motivational profiles explained differences in farmers' perceptions of and stated propensity to interact with policy instruments for conservation practices.…”