The Concept of Sustainable Agriculture Evaluated by Agricultural Producers Depending on Farm Income

Abstract

This study aims to estimate the knowledge about sustainable agriculture and its implementation as part of farm practice, depending on a subjective evaluation of farm income status. Moreover, an attempt has been made to determine the importance of benefits for the environment, community, and farmers resulting from the implementation of this concept, in the opinion of farmers declaring a varying income status. The research carried out in 2019 for a sample of 291 farms using an interview questionnaire states that a more favourable subjective evaluation of own income status was connected with a more significant share of farmers formally declaring to know the concept of sustainable agriculture and the methods of this agricultural system. The research shows the following ranking of environmental benefits: water protection against pollution, reduced emission of greenhouse gases, reduced consumption of energy from non-renewable sources, and increased biodiversity in the natural environment. No distinct diversification was observed regarding presented groups according to age and declaration of income status evaluation. As regards benefits for the community in general, the succession was as follows: the production of safer foods, improvement of working conditions in a farm, improvement of farm animal welfare and better attractiveness of rural areas. However, this hierarchy differed depending on income status evaluation. As regards farmer benefits, the developed ranking showed minor diversification of the average position (rank) of individual advantages (ease sale of products, better farm productivity, improved soil condition, acquired knowledge and experience), which primarily resulted from different preferences of respondents depending on their income status.