1. Maria Bohunova IDARI PhD student Slovakia
The socio-economic impact of Multifunctional Agriculture on rural areas (Thesis Proposal)
Maria Bohunova
IDARI PhD student Slovakia

2. Actual European conditions for agriculture and rural development
Agriculture has lost much of its previous roles in the development of rural areas (production protection).
However it is still considered to be the best way of ensuring a lasting connection between the population and the land.
Multifunctional concept of agriculture (EU) seems to be a legitimizing argument for contributing to the socio-economic development of rural areas and for responding to “new” consumer concerns.

3. MULTIFUNCTIONALITY and Outputs of a Multifunctional Agriculture
Three elements of Multifunctionality:
Production
Territorial
Social
Outputs of a Multifunctional Agriculture
commodity outputs non-commodity outputs
(COs) (NCOs)
private goods private goods public goods

4. Examples of multifunctional outputs:
Commodity outputs
Food and fibre
Transformation of products
Rural tourism
Care activities on farms
Other marketable products
Non commodity outputs
Food security and safety
Rural landscape
Rural way of living/traditions
Biological diversity
Soil conservation
Health and other non commodity products (silence)

5. (Agro-food supply chain)
Sustainable rural development at farm level: moving to multifunctionality
Broadening:
(rural area)
agro-tourism
landscape management
diversification
new on-farm activities
Deepening:
(Agro-food supply chain)
short supply chains
organic farming
high quality production and regional products
Farm
Regrounding (Mobilisation of resources):
new forms of cost reduction
off-farm income
Source: van der Ploeg, 2003

6. Aim of my research
The Main Aim of my PhD research will be to analyse the impact of multifunctional agriculture on the rural development in one selected region in Slovakia. Specifically it will be examined the economic and social contribution of farms to the development of country villages.
Economic contribution: How Multifunctional Agriculture influence the farm‘s economic level and rural economic development (e.g. income, net profit, costs, prices, share of added value to farmer, nº of goods offered, nº of tourists, etc.)?
Social contribution: How Multifunctional Agriculture influence community/rural survival (nº of local groups, rate of migration, nº of inhabitants, on-farm employment, new employment opportunities, etc.)?

7. The research will take place in the region Spiš

8. How to determine the socio-economic impact of multifunctional farm
How to determine the socio-economic impact of multifunctional farm? The S-E impact will be determined through On Farm Effects and External Effects, which are illustrated in the Table.
On Farm Effects
Commodity Higher added value
Higher income
Higher on-farm employment
Non- Better quality of work
commodity Better valorisation of household labour (women, young people)
External Effects
Higher quality of goods
Higher n. of tourists
New employment opportunities
Rural settlement
Amenities
Improvement of natural and social capital

9. Hypothesis (examples)
The higher the level of farm household general and /or agricultural education, the greater the propensity to Multifunctionality.
The “better” use of available local natural, social and cultural resources, the higher level of Multifunctionality.
The more effective use of financial support of EU funds and/or national and local subsidies, the higher level of Multifunctionality.

10. Collection of data and methods of analysis
A. Qualitative analysis
Case studies of small groups of selected farmers to examine the process of shifting to Multifunctionality (MF).
Dialogues with local experts to gain impression of local effects of changing MF and potential for changing.
B. Quantitative analysis
A study of 100 farmers with questionnaire; focus on a) degree of MF, b) household and farm characteristics and c) hypothesis to be tested (e.g. quality of goods, use of local resources, etc.).
Use of secondary local statistics, where useful.

11. Thank you very much for your attention!