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Identifying the family farm. An informal discussion of the concepts and definitions

Author

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  • Garner, Elisabeth
  • de la O Campos, Ana Paula

Abstract

The definition of family farm varies across countries and contexts. We reviewed 36 definitions and uses of the term 'family farm' by academics, government and civil society organisations that describe the characteristics that make family farms unique. After reviewing these concepts we conclude that the majority of definitions recognize the role of family labour and the role of the family in managing the farm operation. However, the notion of family farming seems to go beyond farming capacity, size and orientation. The term is sometimes also used to capture ecological, social, cultural and environmental objectives and therefore has close ties to the local culture and the rural community. This paper concludes that a uniform definition of the term 'family farm' is difficult because the term is not applicable to all contexts. Instead of a definition we propose a concept of the term that highlights the most defining characteristic of family farms - the reliance on family labour - and that recognizes the linkages between its agricultural functions and its economic, environmental, reproductive, social and cultural functions. The role of family farms in food security and rural development needs to be looked at from these perspectives. This definition is the following: 'Family Farming is a means of organizing agricultural, forestry, fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production which is managed and operated by a family and predominantly reliant on family labour, both women's and men's. The family and the farm are linked, coevolve and combine economic, environmental, reproductive, social and cultural functions.'

Suggested Citation

  • Garner, Elisabeth & de la O Campos, Ana Paula, 2014. "Identifying the family farm. An informal discussion of the concepts and definitions," ESA Working Papers 288978, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:faoaes:288978
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.288978
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    Cited by:

    1. Ghinoi, Stefano & Wesz Junior, Valdemar João & Piras, Simone, 2018. "Political debates and agricultural policies: Discourse coalitions behind the creation of Brazil’s Pronaf," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 68-80.
    2. Castor M. M. Bartolome Ruiz & Marcela Gutiérrez Quevedo, editora & Ángela Marcela Olarte Delgado, editora, 2020. "Cátedra Unesco : derechos humanos y violencia : gobierno y gobernanza : reflexiones para la construcción de políticas públicas desde abajo en torno al desplazamiento forzado en Colombia," Books, Universidad Externado de Colombia, Facultad de Derecho, number 1243, march.
    3. Lowder, Sarah K. & Sánchez, Marco V. & Bertini, Raffaele, 2021. "Which farms feed the world and has farmland become more concentrated?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    4. Zegar, Józef, 2020. "The Perspectives of Family Farms – Continuation," Problems of Agricultural Economics / Zagadnienia Ekonomiki Rolnej 311228, Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics - National Research Institute (IAFE-NRI).
    5. Hanna Klikocka & Aneta Zakrzewska & Piotr Chojnacki, 2021. "Characteristics of Models of Farms in the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-19, April.
    6. Isabel Dinis, 2019. "The Concept of Family Farming in the Portuguese Political Discourse," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-15, July.
    7. Elena Horská & Marek Petriľák & Peter Šedík & Ľudmila Nagyová, 2020. "Factors Influencing the Sale of Local Products through Short Supply Chains: A Case of Family Dairy Farms in Slovakia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-17, October.
    8. Boza, S. & Mora, M. & Osorio, F. & Munoz, J., 2018. "Family farmer attitudes toward incorporating into the formal economy," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 276960, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    9. Elisabeth Simelton & Tuan Minh Duong & Ella Houzer, 2021. "When the “Strong Arms” Leave the Farms—Migration, Gender Roles and Risk Reduction in Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-30, April.
    10. repec:lib:000cis:v:8:y:2020:i:1:p:17-29 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Hubert Kryszk & Krystyna Kurowska & Renata Marks-Bielska, 2022. "Legal and Socio-Economic Conditions Underlying the Shaping of the Agricultural System in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-19, October.
    12. Jolita Greblikaite & Vitalija Vanagiene & Zivile Ziukaite, 2017. "Family farms in Lithuania: Problems and challenges," Ekonomia Społeczna/Social Economy, Collegium of Economy and Public Administration, vol. 1, pages 64-71.
    13. Martin Nordin & Sören Höjgård, 2019. "Earnings and Disposable Income of Farmers in Sweden, 1997–2012," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(1), pages 153-173, March.
    14. Lowder, Sarah K. & Skoet, Jakob & Raney, Terri, 2016. "The Number, Size, and Distribution of Farms, Smallholder Farms, and Family Farms Worldwide," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 16-29.
    15. Lorraine A. Holloway & Gemma Catney & Aileen Stockdale & Roy Nelson, 2021. "Sustainable Family Farming Futures: Exploring the Challenges of Family Farm Decision Making through an Emotional Lens of ‘Belonging’," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-20, November.

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