Small Farms: Changing Structures and Roles in Economic Development

38 Pages Posted: 14 Oct 2015

See all articles by Joachim von Braun

Joachim von Braun

University of Bonn - Department of Economic and Technological Change

Alisher Mirzabaev

University of Bonn - Center for Development Research (ZEF)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: October 1, 2015

Abstract

Small farms are the largest employment and small business group among the poor. Their businesses use mostly labor and local resources and face local constraints, but at the same time, they are affected by increasingly complex national and global economic changes, which lead to shifts in optimality and viability of structures and of their business priorities. This paper identifies basic forces of change in the small farm economy, proposes policies that may support productive and socially acceptable transformations, and highlights research priorities. The paper concludes that policies should primarily focus on people’s income opportunities in the rural economy, where small farmers often hold multiple farm and non-farm jobs, rather than be narrowly concerned with viability of the small scale farm enterprise.

Keywords: small farms, structural change, farm size, sustainability, poverty reduction, innovation

JEL Classification: 013, O33, Q01, Q12

Suggested Citation

von Braun, Joachim and Mirzabaev, Alisher, Small Farms: Changing Structures and Roles in Economic Development (October 1, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2672900 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2672900

Joachim Von Braun (Contact Author)

University of Bonn - Department of Economic and Technological Change ( email )

Walter-Flex-Str. 3
Bonn, 53113
Germany

Alisher Mirzabaev

University of Bonn - Center for Development Research (ZEF) ( email )

Walter-Flex-Str. 3
Bonn, NRW 53113
Germany

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