Abstract
We investigated the resilience of small-scale family farms because of the contemporary importance of both the farms’ resilience and the role of these farms in five countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The authors addressed a research gap concerning cross-sectional research on the resilience of farms by combining determinants from various fields. Thus, the primary goal of this article was to identify microeconomic and political factors and links to markets that affect the resilience of small-scale family farms in Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania and Serbia. Using a database of over 3500 farms, the resilience of the farms was calculated, and then the impact of selected factors on that resilience was determined. The research showed that the production scale was the key determinant of the resilience of farms. To achieve higher benefits, increasing the production should be combined with strengthening the market integration of agricultural producers. The position of the producer in the food supply chain determined the income situation of the farm (economic stability). This shaped the quality of life of the family members (social stability). Identifying the effects of those dependencies may provide recommendations for the policy of supporting small-scale family farms in the analysed countries.
Highlights
In the debate on the sustainability of the agricultural sector, there is a discussion about the role of small-scale family farms regarding its implementation
The view on agribusiness development has changed from promoting industrial agriculture to promoting more sustainable agriculture, taking into account three spheres: (1) economic, which is related to the factors of productivity and the income of agricultural producers; (2) social, which determines the quality of life in rural areas; (3) environmental, which is aimed at protecting valuable natural resources
This model was characterised by coefficients of determination (R2) in the following amounts: Poland 0.2493, Lithuania 0.1207, Romania 0.2431, Serbia 0.2283 and Moldova 0.1610
Summary
In the debate on the sustainability of the agricultural sector, there is a discussion about the role of small-scale family farms regarding its implementation. The view on agribusiness development has changed from promoting industrial agriculture (with large-scale farms) to promoting more sustainable agriculture, taking into account three spheres: (1) economic, which is related to the factors of productivity (land, labour and capital) and the income of agricultural producers; (2) social, which determines the quality of life in rural areas; (3) environmental, which is aimed at protecting valuable natural resources. Researchers emphasise the role of smallholders in economic growth, reducing poverty and ensuring food security, mainly in developing regions of the globe. They suggest that growth in small-scale agriculture has higher multiplier effects than in any other sector [11,12,13,14].
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