Should I stay or should I go? Gender differences and factors influencing family farm business succession in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

In family farming, farm transfers usually occur from the older to the new generation (from parents to children). However, the young out-migration from rural areas to urban centers has been reducing the number of children that take over the farm. Furthermore, women have largely out-migrated than men. This study analyzed the gender differences regarding the young rural perception of on-farm activities and incentives for farm business succession, and the factors influencing farm business succession. A survey with 743 young potential successors was conducted in the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The Mann-Whitney U test and the logistic regression were performed. Results show that young women have higher means regarding the parents’ incentives to take over the farm and the lack of autonomy in farm activities as factors that discourage farm business succession. Among the factors that influence farm succession, there are the incentives from cooperatives and private organizations and the valuing of family traditions. The results of this study have implications for the targeting and implementation of policies and programs to contribute to family farm continuity.