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Side activities by non-farmers Symposium ‘Platteland als consumptieruimte’ 12 april 2012

Side activities by non-farmers Symposium ‘Platteland als consumptieruimte’ 12 april 2012. Marianna Markantoni Department of Cultural Geography, Faculty of Spatial Sciences University of Groningen. What is a side activity?.

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Side activities by non-farmers Symposium ‘Platteland als consumptieruimte’ 12 april 2012

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  1. Side activities by non-farmersSymposium ‘Platteland als consumptieruimte’12 april 2012 Marianna Markantoni Department of Cultural Geography, Faculty of Spatial Sciences University of Groningen

  2. What is a side activity? A side activity is a small-scale home-based activity, which provides an extra income at the household level and is carried out in a rural household by non-farmers

  3. Main categories of side activities 1) Services and facilities provision 2) Tourism and recreation 3) Crafts and arts 4) Sale of home-grown products More consumption than production related activities

  4. Why side activities by non-farmers? • Lack of attention • Rural development • Rural policy • Focus of farm diversification of farmers • ‘Invisibility’ of side activities in datasets

  5. Methodology and data collection • Research in 36 municipalities • Survey & in-depth interviews • 560 side activities by non-farmers found 260 surveyed • 269 side activities by farmers counted

  6. Main results: • At the personal level • At the regional level

  7. Motives to start a side activity (open) Personal level

  8. Motives to start a side activity (closed) Personal level Three main type of motives

  9. Personal level ‘I become richer in the inside than in my wallet’

  10. What is the impact of side activities on rural development? Regional level

  11. Regional level Key features of rural develpment(Ilbery 1998; OECD 2008) • Rural economyo Directly- Income- Employmento Indirectly- Local collaborations- Competition- Rural tourism • Social capital • Physical environment

  12. Regional level 1. Direct economic impact Very small 0.009 % of total household income (36 municipalities) Employment generation Sole traders, 2% hire personeel

  13. Indirect economic impact Side activities foster local collaborations Touristic routes Bike routes Walking routes A side activity owner: ‘A groceries shop, a carpenter, a bike shop, they profit from us and we from them. The recreation office in the village is happy with our group accommodation here.’

  14. Regional level 2. Social Impact • ‘I provide a listening ear’ (dog grooming salon) • High level of personal interaction • Fullfil social needs • Municipalities:Social vitality of the rural areasA meeting point for the village

  15. Kiel-Windeweer

  16. Kiel-Windeweer www.kiel-windeweer.nl

  17. Regional level 3. Physical environment • Small-scale, home-based  do not seem to threaten the landscape • BUT 25% of the side activity owners have growth aspirations impact? • Municipalities set preconditions: • Do not clutter (verrommeling) the countryside • No big road sings • Fit with the surroundings • Stay small scale

  18. ‘It is not so much the economic contribution of side activities that is important...but their contribution to the social revitalization of rural areas’

  19. Conclusions 1. Personal level: Side activities are an important part of the owner’s lives, needs and identities 2. Regional level: Side activities diversify the rural activities and enhance the social wellbeing in rural areas

  20. ‘The importance of side activities is valued more in terms of non-economic than economic returns’

  21. Marianna Markantoni Thank you for your attention! Questions? Westerweelde, group accomodation

  22. Personal level

  23. Personal level Enabling factors • Rural location (affordability, rural amenities) • Personal/household circumstances: • Multifunctional home • Major life transitions (marriage, parenthood) • Support from family and friends

  24. Indirect economic impact The position of local governments • Side activities broaden the touristic and the recreation sector • Promote local productsDiversify the touristic activities 2) Side activities have a limited influence on tourism They add a ‘little bit’ to tourism They are very small, tourists do not come for these activities

  25. Regional level Policy perspectives • Unclear policies for side activities • Differentiation between farmers-non-farmer’s side activities in policies This study concluded that: • Side activities are not a threat to the landscapeBut attention to those with clear growth intentions • Raise awareness of the contribution of side activities for the revitalization and diversification of rural areas

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