IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/eurcho/v19y2020i2p12-17.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Telling Stories – Farmers Offer New Insights into Farming Resilience

Author

Listed:
  • Phillipa Nicholas‐Davies
  • Susan Fowler
  • Peter Midmore

Abstract

We explore elements of resilience on East Anglian farms through analysis of nine farmers’ life stories. Using a largely unprompted narrative approach, narrators had freedom to structure their own personal accounts, and later to review our initial interpretations. Transcriptions were organised in timelines, themes were identified, and causes and effects of major farm turning points distinguished. We find that internal drivers such as intergenerational transition, health and family relationships, from the narrators’ viewpoint, were cited as producing more change than external pressures such as price volatility or production variation. Robust and especially adaptation responses are prevalent in the stories, transformations are neither particularly radical nor innovative, but widespread piecemeal change through time can accumulate to enhance resilience. Four farmers identified more as businesspeople, with blurred boundaries between their farming and other commercial interests. Farming succession, with occasional conflict and new problems arising from extended working lives, prompts most change. Insights can arise as much from what is unsaid in these stories, and self‐explanation to outsiders can have cathartic effects. This narrative and analysis approach challenges preconceptions and can reframe theoretical perspectives and suggest approaches for policy reform. The focus was on existing farms with some resilience, further work should explore why former farmers were not resilient. Narrative analysis in other European countries showed important similarities in differing system contexts, but also divergences in the overall character of the life‐stories. Nous explorons les composantes de la résilience dans les exploitations agricoles d'Angleterre de l'est en analysant les parcours de neuf agriculteurs. En utilisant une approche narrative assez libre, les narrateurs avaient la liberté de structurer leurs propres récits personnels, et plus tard de revoir nos interprétations initiales. Les transcriptions ont été organisées selon des échéanciers, des thèmes ont été identifiés et les causes et les effets des principaux tournants charnières pour l'exploitation ont été distingués. Nous constatons que, du point de vue des narrateurs, les facteurs internes tels que la transition intergénérationnelle, la santé et les relations familiales ont été cités comme provoquant davantage de changement que les pressions externes telles que la volatilité des prix ou les variations de la production. Les réponses en matière de robustesse et surtout d'adaptation sont répandues dans les récits. Les transformations ne sont ni particulièrement radicales ni innovantes, mais des changements fragmentaires généralisés au fil du temps peuvent s'accumuler pour améliorer la résilience. Quatre agriculteurs se sont davantage identifiés comme des hommes d'affaires, avec des frontières floues entre leur activité agricole et d'autres intérêts commerciaux. La succession agricole, avec des conflits occasionnels et de nouveaux problèmes résultant du prolongement de la vie professionnelle, explique la plupart des changements. Les enseignements peuvent provenir autant de ce qui n'est pas dit dans ces récits, et l'auto‐explication aux étrangers peut avoir des effets cathartiques. Cette approche narrative et analytique remet en question les idées préconçues et peut recadrer les perspectives théoriques et suggérer des approches de réforme des politiques. L'accent était mis sur les exploitations existantes ayant une certaine résilience, des travaux supplémentaires devraient explorer pourquoi ceux qui ont quitté le secteur n’étaient pas résilients. L'analyse narrative dans d'autres pays européens a montré des similitudes importantes dans les différents contextes du système, mais aussi des divergences dans le caractère global des parcours. Mittels einer Analyse von Lebensgeschichten von neun Landwirtinnen und Landwirten untersuchen wir Aspekte der Resilienz auf landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben in Ostanglien. Unter Verwendung eines weitgehend spontanen erzählerischen Ansatzes erhielten die Befragten die Möglichkeit, ihre persönlichen Berichte frei zu strukturieren und zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt unsere ersten Interpretationen zu überprüfen. Die Transkriptionen wurden in Zeitlinien geordnet und bestimmte Themen wurden identifiziert. Darüber hinaus wurden die Ursachen für und die Auswirkungen von wichtigen Wendepunkten in der Betriebsführung herausgearbeitet. Wir stellen fest, dass interne Gründe wie Generationenwechsel, Gesundheit und Familienbeziehungen aus Sicht Befragten als Faktoren genannt wurden, die mehr Veränderungen bewirken als externe Einflüsse wie Preis‐ oder Produktionsschwankungen. In den Geschichten herrschen starke und vor allem Anpassungsreaktionen vor. Die berichteten Veränderungen sind weder besonders radikal noch innovativ, aber im Laufe der Zeit können sich zahlreiche punktuelle Veränderungen vollziehen, welche die Resilienz des Betriebs erhöhen. Vier Befragte wurden eher als Geschäftsleute identifiziert, wobei die Grenzen zwischen ihren landwirtschaftlichen und ihren anderen wirtschaftlichen Interessen verschwimmen. Die Betriebsnachfolge, die gelegentlich mit Konflikten und neuen Problemen verbunden sein kann, welche sich aus einem verlängerten Arbeitsleben ergeben, führt zu den häufigsten Veränderungen. Aus dem, was in diesen Geschichten ungesagt bleibt, können Erkenntnisse entstehen, und Außenstehenden über sich selbst Auskunft zu erteilen kann befreiend wirken. Der eingesetzte narrative und analytische Ansatz stellt Vorurteile in Frage und ermöglicht es, theoretische Perspektiven neu zu formulieren und Ansätze für politische Reformen vorzuschlagen. Der Schwerpunkt unserer Untersuchung lag auf bestehenden landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben mit einem gewissen Grad an Resilienz. Weiterführende Arbeiten sollten untersuchen, aus welchen Gründen ehemalige Landwirtinnen und Landwirte nicht resilient waren. Die narrative Analyse in anderen europäischen Ländern hat wichtige Ähnlichkeiten in unterschiedlichen Systemkontexten aufgezeigt, aber auch Unterschiede im Gesamtcharakter der Lebensgeschichten.

Suggested Citation

  • Phillipa Nicholas‐Davies & Susan Fowler & Peter Midmore, 2020. "Telling Stories – Farmers Offer New Insights into Farming Resilience," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 19(2), pages 12-17, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:eurcho:v:19:y:2020:i:2:p:12-17
    DOI: 10.1111/1746-692X.12279
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/1746-692X.12279
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/1746-692X.12279?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Meuwissen, Miranda P.M. & Feindt, Peter H. & Spiegel, Alisa & Termeer, Catrien J.A.M. & Mathijs, Erik & de Mey, Yann & Finger, Robert & Balmann, Alfons & Wauters, Erwin & Urquhart, Julie & Vigani, Mau, 2019. "A framework to assess the resilience of farming systems," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 176, pages 1-10.
    2. Maxwell, Simon, 1986. "Farming systems research: Hitting a moving target," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 65-77, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ika Darnhofer, 2021. "Farming Resilience: From Maintaining States towards Shaping Transformative Change Processes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-21, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mathijs, Erik & Bijttebier, Jo & Accatino, Francesco & Feindt, Peter H. & Gavrilescu, Camelia & Manevska-Tasevska, Gordana & Meuwissen, Miranda P. M. & Ollendorf, Franziska & Peneva, Mariya & San Mart, 2022. "A resilience-enabling environment for farming systems: Patterns and principles," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, pages 302-320.
    2. Blazquez-Soriano, Amparo & Ramos-Sandoval, Rosmery, 2022. "Information transfer as a tool to improve the resilience of farmers against the effects of climate change: The case of the Peruvian National Agrarian Innovation System," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    3. Shingo Yoshida & Hironori Yagi, 2021. "Long-Term Development of Urban Agriculture: Resilience and Sustainability of Farmers Facing the Covid-19 Pandemic in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-23, April.
    4. Evelien Cronin & Sylvie Fosselle & Elke Rogge & Robert Home, 2021. "An Analytical Framework to Study Multi-Actor Partnerships Engaged in Interactive Innovation Processes in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, June.
    5. Blake-Rath, Robyn & Grote, Ulrike, 2022. "Resilienz und Digitalisierung in der deutschen Agrarwirtschaft: Lehren aus der COVID-19-Pandemie," 62nd Annual Conference, Stuttgart, Germany, September 7-9, 2022 329610, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    6. Abdollahzadeh, Gholamhossein & Sharifzadeh, Mohammad Sharif & Sklenička, Petr & Azadi, Hossein, 2023. "Adaptive capacity of farming systems to climate change in Iran: Application of composite index approach," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    7. Miranda P.M. Meuwissen & Peter H. Feindt & Peter Midmore & Erwin Wauters & Robert Finger & Franziska Appel & Alisa Spiegel & Erik Mathijs & Katrien J.A.M. Termeer & Alfons Balmann & Yann de Mey & Pytr, 2020. "The Struggle of Farming Systems in Europe: Looking for Explanations through the Lens of Resilience," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 19(2), pages 4-11, August.
    8. Daniele, Bertolozzi-Caredio & Barbara, Soriano & Isabel, Bardaji & Alberto, Garrido, 2022. "Analysis of perceived robustness, adaptability and transformability of Spanish extensive livestock farms under alternative challenging scenarios," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    9. Blazy, J.M. & Causeret, F. & Guyader, S., 2021. "Immediate impacts of COVID-19 crisis on agricultural and food systems in the Caribbean," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    10. Antonio Zavala-Alcívar & María-José Verdecho & Juan-José Alfaro-Saiz, 2020. "A Conceptual Framework to Manage Resilience and Increase Sustainability in the Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-38, August.
    11. Meuwissen, Miranda & Feindt, Peter & Slijper, Thomas & Spiegel, Alisa & Finger, Robert & de Mey, Yann & Paas, Wim & Termeer, Katrien & Poortvliet, P. Marijn & Peneva, Mariya & Urquhart, Julie & Vigani, 2021. "Impact of Covid-19 on farming systems in Europe through the lens of resilience thinking," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 191.
    12. Lecegui, Antonio & Olaizola, Ana María & López-i-Gelats, Feliu & Varela, Elsa, 2022. "Implementing the livelihood resilience framework: An indicator-based model for assessing mountain pastoral farming systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    13. Appel, Franziska & Meier, Anneke & Ollendorf, Franziska, 2022. "Historical legacies and current challenges for the future resilience of the farming system in the Altmark," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, pages 140-155.
    14. Daniel Kangogo & Domenico Dentoni & Jos Bijman, 2020. "Determinants of Farm Resilience to Climate Change: The Role of Farmer Entrepreneurship and Value Chain Collaborations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-15, January.
    15. Claire Jack & Austen Ashfield & Adewale Henry Adenuga & Conall Mullan, 2021. "Farm Diversification: Drivers, Barriers and Future Growth Potential," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 20(2), pages 70-75, August.
    16. Manh Hung Do, 2023. "Saving up and diversifying income for a rainy day: Implications for households' resilience strategies and poverty," TVSEP Working Papers wp-033, Leibniz Universitaet Hannover, Institute for Environmental Economics and World Trade, Project TVSEP.
    17. Slijper, Thomas & Urquhart, Julie & Poortvliet, P. Marijn & Soriano, Bárbara & Meuwissen, Miranda P.M., 2022. "Exploring how social capital and learning are related to the resilience of Dutch arable farmers," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    18. Victor Ye. Kovalev & Aleksandr N. Semin, 2021. "Resilience of Russia’s agri-food market under customs imbalances of the Eurasian integration," Journal of New Economy, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 22(3), pages 28-43, October.
    19. Nele Lohrum & Morten Graversgaard & Chris Kjeldsen, 2021. "Historical Transition of a Farming System towards Industrialization: A Danish Agricultural Case Study Comparing Sustainability in the 1840s and 2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-15, November.
    20. Whitfield, Stephen & Dixon, Jami L. & Mulenga, Brian P. & Ngoma, Hambulo, 2015. "Conceptualising farming systems for agricultural development research: Cases from Eastern and Southern Africa," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 54-62.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:eurcho:v:19:y:2020:i:2:p:12-17. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/eaaeeea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.