Family farm succession: evidence from absorptive capacity, social capital, and socioeconomic aspects

Abstract

Farm succession is a process socially built from the preparation of the successor and the farm to meet a family business’ expectations. This study aimed to identify how social capital, absorptive capacity, and socioeconomic characteristics influence farm succession. The survey was conducted sampling 82 soybean and corn Brazilian farmers. The questionnaire measured socioeconomic characteristics, Absorptive Capacity (AC), and Social Capital (SC). To test the influence of AC, SC, and socioeconomic characteristics on farm succession, Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) was performed. Results showed that the absorptive capacity can influence farm succession through acquisition, assimilation, use, and transformation of external knowledge into decision making, supporting the definition of successors. Results also suggested that social capital plays an important role to form relationship networks, stimulating discussions, and supporting the designation of successors. The socioeconomic characteristics ‘percentage of family income from the farm, participation in courses and lectures, and being a cooperatives member’ also presented a significant positive correlation with farm succession. Issues related to the capacity to absorb external knowledge, social and symbolic capital and generational transference can be fundamental in the continuity of the family farming business.

Influence of Rural Social Capital and Production Mode on the Subjective Well-Being of Farmers and Herdsmen: Empirical Discovery on Farmers and Herdsmen in Inner Mongolia

“…On the one hand, individual farmers and herdsmen enhance income, production efficiency, sense of belonging, and self-recognition (social fame), through exchanges and interactions with neighbors, relatives, village cadres, and cooperatives (social participation, and social network), thereby improving the level of subjective well-being [ 16 ]. On the other hand, the collective social environment (social trust, social standard, and common vision) indirectly affects the subjective well-being of farmers and herdsmen by influencing the income, education level, employment concept, health cognition, and risk resistance [ 53 ].…”

“…Theoretical and empirical studies had explored how individual social capital and collective social capital act on the subjective well-being of farmers [ 54 ]. In general, social capital can promote subjective well-being along two different paths ( Figure 2 ): the individual path and the collective path [ 53 ]. Hence, the following hypothesis was presented:…”

Sucessão geracional e instalação de jovens na agricultura: a percepção de organizações sindicais da Espanha

“…No entanto, um estudo recente identificou que características socioeconômicas como o percentual da renda familiar do estabelecimento agropecuário, a participação em cursos e palestras e a associação a cooperativas, podem ser importantes aspectos para que ocorra sucessão geracional (Abdala et al, 2022). Para estes autores, questões relacionadas à formação socioprofissional, capital social e as relações intrafamiliares para a transição geracional podem ser fundamentais na continuidade de estabelecimentos rurais.…”