Young Farmers Research Articles

The Setting-Up Measure to Support Generational Renewal in Agriculture: The Italian Experience

Since the 1970s, the issue of ageing farmers and generational renewal in agriculture has consistently attracted the attention of policymakers. However, despite successive reforms of the European Union Structural Funds, efforts to encourage young people to enter the agricultural sector remain largely focused on agricultural and rural policies, specifically on the First Settlement scheme. This paper highlights the role of the European Union’s rural development policy in supporting and encouraging generational renewal in agriculture. A qualitative analysis of the Italian case examining some of the demographic changes that have occurred within the agricultural system at the regional level has been conducted. The analysis is based on the comparison of policy implementations in different programming periods. Using data from the General Censuses of Agriculture and the Italian Agricultural Payments Agency—supplemented by the Annual Implementation Reports of the Italian Rural Development Programmes—the research traces the evolution of initiatives supporting young farmers. The main findings reveal a notable decline in the number of young people in the primary sector over the last decade, together with an ageing population of agricultural farmers. Measures to support young farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy appear to be ineffective in countering the ageing trend. There is scope for integrated policies to enhance the attractiveness and profitability of rural areas and to ensure long-term sustainable generational renewal in the agricultural sector.

Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Adoption of Mobile Phone Applications for Improved Small-scale Commercial Agriculture in Makonde District, Zimbabwe

Mobile applications have provided a new way for agricultural transformation. This is set to revolutionise the agriculture sector with easy access to vital agricultural information on weather, market trends, pest, and disease management, and best agriculture practices to enhance agricultural productivity and profitability. However, there is a dearth of studies on the adoption of mobile applications in agriculture. It was important for this study to understand the impact of farmers’ demographic characteristics on the adoption of mobile applications in small-scale commercial agriculture. The study applied the quantitative research approach, a sample size of 213 small-scale commercial farmers, a descriptive cross-sectional research design, and the structured household questionnaire survey instrument, purposive random and stratified sampling techniques to collect primary data. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings of the study revealed a higher adoption rate of mobile applications among young farmers than old farmers. The study indicated that female small-scale commercial farmers adopted mobile applications than male farmers. The study revealed that the majority of small-scale commercial farmers were literate. Further, the study highlighted that married farmers exhibited a greater tendency to adopt mobile applications than single, divorced, separated, and widowed. Furthermore, the study revealed that the majority of small-scale commercial farmers were engaged in agriculture as their primary occupation. The study argued that young farmers, female farmers, educated farmers, married farmers, and farming as a primary occupation positively influenced the adoption of mobile phone applications for improved small-scale commercial agriculture. The study recommends that policymakers and implementers should consider socio-demographic characteristics as critical determinants of the adoption of mobile phone applications for improved small-scale commercial agriculture to tailor strategies that promote the adoption of mobile applications based on different farmer age groups

Sosialisasi Manajemen Kesehatan Kambing Perah serta Pengaruhnya terhadap Kualitas Susu pada Peternak Kambing Perah di Kecamatan Ampelgading dan Tirtoyudo Kabupaten Malang

Goat's milk is a food of animal origin that is easily damaged and requires handling after the milking process. Ampelgading and Tirtoyudo sub-districts are areas in Malang Regency where some of the population are dairy goat breeders. This community service aims to provide socialization and education on good animal health management so that it can improve the quality of goat milk. The activity began with collecting farmer data and analyzing the situation of dairy goat farming. The socialization method was carried out by conducting focus group discussions about knowledge of animal health management and checking the quality of goat milk. Milk composition testing uses Lactoscan, while organoleptic testing is based on Indonesian National Standard 01-2346-2006 concerning organoleptic and sensory testing instructions. The results of community service show that the quality of dairy goat milk in Ampelgading and Tirtoyudo Districts is premium based on the Thailand Agriculture Standard 2008. The results of the organoleptic test of goat milk have remained the same based on SNI 3141-1-2011 regarding the quality of fresh milk. The results of this goat milk quality test can be used as a basis for farmers to improve livestock management and milking. Through this activity, farmers can implement good livestock health management so that the quality of goat milk and the selling price increase. This activity will encourage young farmers to be more interested in becoming dairy goat breeders who have high economic prospects and contribute to increasing goat milk productivity. Apart from that, this activity can improve the welfare of farmers by improving the quality of goat milk with higher selling power.

Agricultural Strategies of Young Farmers on Small-Scale Land in Sriharjo, Bantul

Abstract: The agricultural situation in the Special Region of Yogyakarta is becoming increasingly concerning. The number of farmers is declining, and young people are showing less interest in agriculture. This has led to problems with production output and a food security crisis. A solution to these challenges is to empower youth to engage in farming. The aim of this study is to identify groups of young farmers and the efforts made to address current challenges. The unit of analysis in this study is youth groups involved in farming activities on limited land. The research was conducted with a youth farming group called Taruna Tani Hijaunya Cinta in Sriharjo Village, Bantul. A case study design was employed, using in-depth interviews conducted both in person and via telephone. The research was carried out from January to June 2022, with limited observations and interviews due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To supplement the data, document and photo collection from the farmer group was also conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyze various data sources. The findings of this study indicate that the majority of the group's members are children of farmers aged 17-35, with educational backgrounds ranging from secondary school to university students. The results show that the use of technology in farming, the development of social media for marketing, and the creation of agro-tourism have enhanced the competitiveness of young people in the agricultural sector, created new business opportunities, and stimulated local economic growth. For long-term sustainability, it is recommended that the government and educational institutions strengthen training and education programs for youth to enable them to continue innovating and adapting to market changes. Keywords: Limited Land Agriculture, Young Farmers, Youth

Giant Facial Tumor in Rosacea: A Case Report

Introduction: Rosacea is a centrofacial dermatosis with numerous triggers, leading to neurovascular dysregulation. Phymatous rosacea results from sebaceous hyperplasia and fibrosis, clinically presenting as irregular hypertrophy of the affected area. Medical therapies, such as photoprotection, anti-inflammatory antibiotics, and retinoids, provide suboptimal benefits in cases of phymatous rosacea. This limitation necessitates the use of surgical modalities like ablative lasers, electrosurgery, or plastic reconstruction for effective treatment. Here, we report a case of phymatous rosacea with multiple phymas over the nose, eyelids, forehead, chin, ears, and cheeks, creating a lion-like facial appearance (leonine facies) due to diffuse facial nodularity. The condition was clinically confounded with leprosy, leishmaniasis, lymphoma, and scleromyxedema. Additionally, the zygophyma (cheek) presented as a giant pedunculated tumor, which is rarely reported. It was mistaken for a soft tissue tumor, posing a diagnostic challenge. Plastic surgical excision and reconstruction proved therapeutic, and microscopic examination played a pivotal role in solving the diagnostic enigma. Case Presentation: A young male farmer with recurrent photo-exacerbated centrofacial lesions, clinically diagnosed as rosacea, later developed diffuse facial nodularity resembling leonine facies. The appearance of a progressively enlarging, globose, pedunculated tumor on his right cheek further complicated the diagnosis. Although phymatous rosacea was the leading clinical suspicion, histological analysis was deemed necessary to distinguish the combination of leonine facies and the pendulous mass from other serious conditions. Leprosy, leishmaniasis, lymphoma, and scleromyxedema are among the many causes of leonine facies, while soft tissue tumors like lipoma, fibroma, and neurofibroma can present with pedunculated morphology. The pendulous mass was surgically excised and sent for microscopic analysis, which confirmed the diagnosis of granulomatous rosacea. Cold knife excision was preferred over lasers and radiosurgery to preserve tissue architecture for histological analysis. Continued medical therapy and photoprotection contributed to further clinical regression. Conclusions: Pedunculated phymatous rosacea, mimicking a soft tissue tumor, requires histopathological distinction from more serious conditions. Cold knife plastic surgery, which preserves tissue architecture for histopathological studies, should be the recommended surgical treatment in such cases. Additionally, avoiding triggers and adhering to medical therapy are essential for better aesthetic outcomes.

Clinical features of chronic tibial osteomyelitis: a single-center retrospective study of 282 cases in Xinjiang, China.

Chronic osteomyelitis is a highly prevalent and severe orthopaedic complication, representing a critical unresolved issue. The clinical symptoms of osteomyelitis are influenced by various factors, including geography, lifestyle, and pre-existing medical conditions.This study aims to provide theoretical basis for treatment and prevention of osteomyelitis by investigating and analyzing clinical features and pathogen distribution among 282 patients with chronic tibial osteomyelitis in xinjiang. A total of 282 patients with chronic tibial osteomyelitis from January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2022 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. All data were collected from electronic medical record (EMR) system including demographics, etiology, risk factors, osteomyelitis location and clinical classification. Farmers, students, unemployed and retirees accounted for a relatively large proportion of the 282 patients. There were 233 males and 49 females with a gender ratio of 4.75:1. The average age was 40.21 ± 15.68 years and was mainly concentrated in 41-50 years, specifically, the mean age of females was slightly older than that of males. Education level was mostly primary and secondary school education, and illiteracy. Risk factors of chronic tibial osteomyelitis included history of smoking and drinking, history of multiple repeated surgeries, and impaired immunity. Frequent clinical symptoms were in the order of pain, local swelling, pus discharge and skin ulceration. Among all inflammatory markers, proportion of positive results were 30.85%, 59.93% and 53.90% for white blood cell (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), respectively. Positive rate of pathogenic microorganism culture was low and the three most common bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The most frequent site of infection was middle tibia. According to Cierny-Mader osteomyelitis classification, the most common types were type IIIA, IVA and IIA. Number of visits due to chronic osteomyelitis increased year by year, with young and middle-aged male farmers and low education level as the main groups. Smoking and drinking were two considerable risk factors that should be attached to a great importance. No significant increase was found in inflammatory markers and lower positive rate of pathogenic microorganism culture was observed. Multi-drug resistant bacteria were common and S. aureus remained the most frequent pathogen. Elevated ESR had certain diagnostic value for osteomyelitis. Type III and type IV osteomyelitis accounted for a large proportion which posed great challenges for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Perceptions of The Health Risks of Local Poultry Farming and The Behaviour Of Urban and Peri-Urban Populations in The Town of Korhogo (Côte d'Ivoire).

Poultry farming plays an important nutritional, economic and socio-cultural role in developing countries. The aim of this study is to analyse the perceptions of health risks associated with poultry farming activities in the vicinity of dwellings and the behaviour of the population of the town of Korhogo. To achieve this, a qualitative socio-anthropological approach was used. The data collected came from 97 semi-structured interviews and direct observation from 15 April to 27 May 2024 in the town of Korhogo. The main results show that local residents living near poultry farms are aware of the health risks to which they are exposed, but the balance of power between gains and risks explains their practices. Poultry farming close to homes has had an impact on local residents and their environment. Residents often suffer from respiratory ailments, allergies, soiling of their surroundings, odour nuisance and other noises. As for the environment, it has suffered pollution of its air and water quality, as well as soil degradation. The reasons why these poultry farmers decide to carry out their activities close to homes are environmental, economic, social and ethical. Hence the need to train young farmers to manage the nuisances generated by these poultry farming activities.

Integrated pest management farmer field school of Chinese cabbage for young farmers in Batu City

The Abinaya Milenial Youth Farmers Group in Sumber Brantas Village, Bumiaji District, Batu City, faces significant challenges in cultivating Chinese cabbage due to a high incidence of clubroot disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, with infection rates reaching 50–80 percent, leading to crop failure. The overuse of synthetic pesticides has resulted in pathogen resistance. Therefore, we adopted an integrated pest management (IPM) approach focusing on long-term prevention by integrating ecologically-based control techniques. The principles of IPM include managing healthy plants, preserving natural enemies, monitoring, and enhancing farmers' ecological understanding to become IPM experts. Through the IPM Farmer Field School (IPM-FFS), we aimed to implement ecological IPM, improve agroecosystem health, and support sustainable agriculture through participatory extension methods. Activities were conducted from June to November 2023 in Sumber Brantas Village, Bumiaji District, Batu City. The activities included surveys, planning, socialization, teaching, training, and follow-up. The IPM-FFS successfully developed standard operating procedures for Chinese cabbage management, increasing farmers' knowledge of IPM by 85 percent. The adoption of IPM reduced the incidence of clubroot disease to 20 percent, increased production by 420 kg, and reduced production costs by IDR 403,000 on an area of 400 m2. Farmers independently produce compost, compost tea, botanical pesticides, mycorrhizae, and fungicides through the IPM-FFS, empowering them in sustainable agriculture.

Advancing Thai Agriculture: Strategic Proposals for a Young Smart Farmer in Thailand

The study "Advancing Thai Agriculture: Strategic Proposals for a Young Smart Farmer in Thailand" addresses the critical role of agriculture in Thailand's economy and the challenges it faces, such as climate change, water scarcity, and market volatility. It emphasizes the importance of young smart farmers and innovative solutions like smart farming technologies, sustainable practices, and educational programs to ensure the sector's future sustainability and productivity. The research employs qualitative methods, including interviews and participant observations, to gather data on governmental policies and the preparedness of the next generation of farmers. The findings suggest a need for strategic planning and stakeholder engagement to foster a new generation of knowledgeable, technologically adept farmers. This effort aligns with national strategies to transform Thailand into a knowledge-driven economy, emphasizing sustainable and efficient agricultural practices.

Does the European Union Start-Up Aid Help Young Farmers to Innovate and to Join Networks?

The endurance and vitality of European agriculture are threatened by the aging of farmers, together with the lack of generational change. The small share of young farmers also impacts on the innovative capacity and competitiveness of the sector. The Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union started addressing the issue long ago by providing financial aid to help young farmers to start up. Over time, the aid increased and packages of measures were set to reinforce the aid and to promote investments, innovations, and networks at the farm level. While the literature focuses on analyzing the effectiveness of the start-up aid in fostering new entries, this paper assumes an original perspective as it seeks to assess whether this aid has actually promoted innovations and networks in the beneficiary farms. The analysis relies on sample data collected in 2021 in Italy and Poland via interviews of 500 farmers under 40 who had entered the sector both with and without the aid. A probit model estimates whether the beneficiaries have a higher probability to innovate and network. Then, the contribution of the aid to the intensity of the adoption of innovations and networks is estimated via an Average Treatment Effect on the Treated model (ATT). Results suggest that the start-up aid increased the adoption of innovations and networks. The ATT indicates that this positive effect holds even after correcting for self-selection bias. By adopting an original perspective, our analysis suggests that the start-up aid for young farmers goes beyond rejuvenating agriculture by fostering innovation at the farm level and by promoting networking, thus enhancing agricultural change. However, farmer behaviors in the two countries are different, suggesting quite complex patterns for the impact of this measure.

Influence of Socio-Economic and Institutional Factors on the Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Bahi District, Tanzania

This study sought to establish the influence of socio-economic and institutional factors on the adoption of conservation agriculture in Bahi District, Tanzania. This study used a cross-sectional research design, using the sample of 176 farming households, where 89 households were CA adopters and the remaining 87 households were non-CA adopters. Data from a questionnaire was analyzed through a binary logistic regression model and descriptive statistics. The study concluded that gender, age market availability, credit accessibility and bylaw awareness influenced the adoption of Conservation Agriculture in the study area. If credit accessibility, extension service and bylaws are present, then adopting CA is done more easily. Therefore, before introducing CA, it is important to assess the presence of these factors for better results. Some of the recommendations are that collaboration between financial institutions and policymakers be encouraged as it is essential to increase farmers' credit accessibility by providing affordable loans and financial services. Extension services need to be improved and expanded by funding the extension programs and employing more extension workers. Information dissemination and training on CA should be tailored to consider the needs of female and young farmers. Additionally, cooperative farming groups or networks of young and female farmers should be created to facilitate resource pooling, knowledge sharing and collective investment in necessary equipment and inputs.

Civilian-Military Relations in the “Camp Philadelphia” Incident, 1863

ABSTRACT A venerable History of Philadelphia, 1609–1884 by J. Thomas Scharf and Thompson Westcott has been long and widely used by many historians, sometimes with insufficient due diligence, for overall background and context for more specialized topics. An event in Philadelphia involving a confrontation between soldiers and civilians in August 1863, which led to the death of a young farmer, was one such incident where Scharf and Westcott got it all wrong. Unfortunately, their rendition of the event in terms of place and persons involved has been repeated in some more modern histories. Setting the record straight, however, has led to some unexpected benefits which further our awareness of conditions on the Philadelphia home front during the Civil War years; and it could, by extension and expansion, advance our historical understanding of civilian-military relations in other cities in the United States where military camps were placed within urban settings.

Factors Associated with Morbidity and Mortality of Goat in Extensive and Semi-Intensive Farming Systems in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka

The present study was conducted to identify the associated factors with morbidity and mortality of goats in extensive and semi-intensive farming systems. A sample of 266 goat farmers of three districts i.e., Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee in the eastern province were randomly selected with the assistance of veterinary offices. A pre-tested questionnaire with face-to-face interviews, farm visits and observations were used to collect the data. The study found that goat farming is a male-dominant (>90%) activity regardless of the farming systems. Young and middle-aged farmers with better educations adopted semi-intensive farming systems while the older and poorly educated farmers adopted extensive farming systems while being self-employed. The factors i.e., ectoparasites, lack of feed, lack of water, age of the goats, rainy season, and the lack of veterinary services significantly associated (p<0.05) with morbidity and mortality of goats in both extensive and semi-intensive farming systems. The factors i.e., disease, poor housing, dry season and predator attack were not associated with morbidity and mortality of goats in semi-intensive farming systems whereas the association was significant (p< 0.05) in the extensive farming system. Hence, it is concluded that the semi-intensive farming system is effective in protecting goats from morbidity and mortality caused by disease, dry season, predator attack and poor housing compared to the extensive farming system. The factors associated with morbidity and mortality in extensive farming are inherent to the system except for the lack of veterinary services. J Bangladesh Agril Univ 22(3):369-376, 2024

Influence of Students’ Participation in Young Farmers’ Club on Performance in Agriculture in Secondary Schools in Suba Sub-County, Kenya

Agriculture is one of the most important sectors for economic growth in Kenya. Setting up of young farmers’ club (YFC) in secondary schools is one way of attracting young people in agriculture as well as developing their production skills. Inadequate participation in young farmers’ club may lead to poor performance in agriculture and negative attitude towards the subject by secondary school students.The aim of this study was to determine the influence of students’ participation in young farmers’ club on performance in agriculture subject in secondary schools in Suba Sub-County. A cross-sectional survey research design was employed in the study which targeted 628 Form Three agriculture students in public secondary schools in Suba Sub-County. Data was collected from an accessible population of 286 Form Three Young Farmers’ Club members in 37 public secondary schools in Suba Sub-County. Stratified random sampling was used to get the study sample of 126 respondents. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. Experts from the field of Agricultural Education and Extension of Egerton University assessed the instrument to ensure validity. Reliability was estimated through a pilot testing of 30 agriculture students in five secondary schools in neighbouring Nyatike Sub-County. The reliability was estimated using Cronbach alpha co-efficient where a co-efficient of 0.817 was computed and taken as satisfactory. Data was arranged,coded and analyzed using SPSS version 25. The study findings revealed that students’ performance in agriculture subject is significantly enhanced by participation in Young Farmers’ Club. This study recommends that students’ participation in Young Farmers’ Club activities should be encouraged in all secondary schools as a way of augmenting the students’ performance in agriculture subject. This can be done by availing adequate time for YFC’s activities. In addition, students in YFCs should be accorded with the required facilities in order to make their participation worthwhile.

Pembentukan Sanggar Tani Muda Aksatani untuk Mendukung Regenerasi Petani Muda di Desa Sukowiryo, Kecamatan Jelbuk, Kabupaten Jember

Data from BPS (2023) shows that the number of farmers aged 19-39 years is 6,183,009 people or 21.39% of the total number of farmers in Indonesia. Sukowiryo Village is one of the villages that lacks farmer regeneration, which can threaten the sustainability of the agricultural sector. The PPK ORMAWA HIMASETA team held youth community service activities in Sukowiryo Village, Jelbuk District, Jember Regency, from March to August 2024. The community service activity aims to empower the interest and capacity of young farmers in Sukowiryo Village through the formation of a young farmer studio, 'AKSATANI'. The community service activity of the young farmer studio not only aims to be a forum for village youths to learn together but also plays a role in facilitating the development of more productive and sustainable agricultural businesses. The community service method used is the extension method. The AKSATANI program consists of a series of trainings, which include organisational management training, environmentally friendly cultivation, superior commodity processing, and digital marketing. Through the institution of the AKSATANI young farmer studio, the youth of Sukowiryo Village are given guidance in managing businesses, including the application of precision agriculture technology and smart farming. The results of the community service showed that the activities of the young farmer studio succeeded in increasing the knowledge and soft skills of young farmers in running farms.

Understanding inter-farm inequalities in extreme weather event impacts: Insights from the Dutch agricultural sector

As a result of global climate change, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense. Susceptibility to extreme weather events (EWEs) is high in the agricultural sector, as these extremes can cause a decline in yields and revenue for farmers. To provide insight into ways to reduce the impacts of EWEs, this study assessed which factors explain the differences in the impacts of past weather extremes between Dutch arable farms. A survey was conducted among potato and onion farmers in the Netherlands to collect information on the past impacts of EWEs between 2018 and 2022 and the vulnerability of farmers (N = 81). The survey results showed that EWEs have already had a strong effect on farm revenues, but the extent of the impacts varied among farms. By coupling the survey data to meteorological data on EWEs, it was found that dry summers, wet fields during harvest and plowing, and warm winters were the extremes that best explained the more detrimental impacts of extreme weather amongst respondents. Additionally, differences in the physical and social vulnerability of farmers played a significant role in the observed inter-farm inequalities in impacts. Farm practices that reduce physical vulnerability are frequently inaccessible to smaller-scale or younger farmers. Further research is needed to understand the access barriers faced by these farmers. Further, future research and policies targeting the Dutch agricultural sector should no longer ignore social vulnerability factors to avoid exacerbating inter-farm inequalities, as the impacts of EWEs increase due to climate change.

ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ ШТАММОВ МОЛОЧНОКИСЛЫХ БАКТЕРИЙ СЕЛЕКЦИИ ГОРСКОГО ГАУ ПРИ ПРОИЗВОДСТВЕ ЗАМЕНИТЕЛЯ ЦЕЛЬНОГО МОЛОКА

An effective raw material for the production of probiotic products for young farm animals and poultry are whole milk replacer (WMR), which are prepared on the basis of skim milk. The work was carried out at the Research Institute of Biotechnology of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education Gorsky State Agrarian University. The article presents the results of using a whole milk replacer (WMR) based on skim milk fermented with strains of lactic acid microorganisms selected by the Gorsky State Agrarian University in feeding young farm animals. The increase in live weight in calves of the experimental group receiving the probiotic product was 13.3 % higher than that of their peers. Replacing 50 % of whole milk for calves with a lactobacilli preparation is an economically advantageous technique, because experimental calves consumed 11.93 % less feed units per 1 kg of gain than animals in the control group.

Impact of Young Farmer Support Program for Livestock Enterprises

Impact of Young Farmer Support Program for Livestock Enterprises

Pelatihan Pembuatan Pestisida Nabati Solusi Pengendalian Hama Thrips Petani Muda Desa Sukowiryo Kecamatan Jelbuk

Thrips pests are plant pest organisms (OPT) that disturb chili plants in Sukowiryo Village, Jelbuk District which can cause damage to plants, especially on the leaves. Overcoming this problem, PPK ORMAWA HIMASETA held a training on making vegetable pesticides on 22 July 2024 at the AKSATANI secretariat which was attended by 20 young farmers. The training activity aims to improve the ability of young farmers to make and use vegetable pesticides, as well as their impact on plants. The method used the counselling method regarding vegetable pesticides as an alternative effort for control of thrips pests, training in the production of vegetable pesticides, and application on chilli fields. Evaluation was conducted through pre-test and post-test questionnaires to measure knowledge and skills of young farmers. Results of the training showed that the training successful improved the knowledge and skills of young farmers in the production and use of plant-based pesticides.

Facilitating unlearning in agricultural education: preparing for family-farm succession

ABSTRACT Purpose This paper seeks to explore the manner in which secondary vocational education in agriculture can facilitate unlearning among young farmers. In this context, ‘unlearning’ means deliberately letting go of mindsets, practices, and routines that are no longer fit for purpose. Design/Methodology/Approach We use a course on sustainable family-farm succession as a case study in order to illustrate how unlearning may feature in agricultural education. We organised focus-group sessions with three teachers of that course. The sessions focused on three subprocesses of unlearning: (i) initial destabilisation, (ii) ongoing discarding and experimentation, and (iii) developing and relinquishing. Findings We show that teachers can facilitate unlearning, and discuss how teachers may help students to navigate intergenerational tensions in unlearning. We conclude that unlearning is a layered concept: it involves adaptation to a changing agriculture sector context as much as emancipation from the social context. We also show how expressions of solidarity and loyalty may undermine unlearning. Practical implications Agricultural educators are increasingly being tasked with helping future food professionals to manage the complexity of food systems. Our analysis points to means by which teachers who are seeking to reshape agricultural education may adopt the concept of unlearning in order to foster young farmers’ consciousness and agency in food system transformation. Theoretical implications A pedagogy of unlearning can contribute to designing education that enables young farmers to overcome path dependency in farm succession. Originality/Value This paper proposes unlearning as an innovative pedagogy for farmers’ training in view of food system transformation.