The study of the evolution of agriculture and of the rural environment, since some time, has highlighted the plurality of functions (environmental, social, educational, relational, etc...) that rural areas have assumed, which have become much more than mere places for the production of foods. The Rural Development Program (RDP) of the European Union supports agriculture and encourages it in the direction of socio-economic and environmental sustainability, through a plurality of heterogeneous measures. Among these, there are some dedicated to young people, but none addressed to women. Yet it could be exactly women, which are more numerous in multifunctional agricultural activities (agritourism, short chain, social and educational farms, etc.), to ensure the sustainability of rural areas. This paper presents a research on the female agricultural entrepreneurship in Piedmont, undertaken in order to further discuss the role of women in agriculture and the existence or not of a feminine approach to the management of the agricultural enterprise, in pathways and business decisions. Using the biographical approach, 25 in-depth interviews were conducted. The in-depth qualitative investigation, made possible by the collection and analysis of the life histories, has allowed exploring issues such as: · the role of training in daily work and in the path of entrepreneurship; · the relationship existing between business and organizations devoted to training; · the influence exercised by rural development policies on female agricultural entrepreneurship; · the opinions that women have towards the quality of their work and private life; · the perception of the possibility of balance between work and private life offered by the agricultural sector; · the participation of women in the agricultural decision-making system. The results lead to the conclusion that, in order to improve the technical and economic aspects of agriculture, policy makers should develop new tools dedicated to women to encourage their training and participation in decision-making. In terms of implementation of policies for sustainable development in rural areas, decision-makers should pay close attention to the peculiarities of female entrepreneurship, since their contribution in this area is very important.
Understanding women approach to the management of agricultural enterprise with the aim of improving the policies for sustainable development of rural areas
Elena Pagliarino;Sara Pavone;Valentina Moiso
2013
Abstract
The study of the evolution of agriculture and of the rural environment, since some time, has highlighted the plurality of functions (environmental, social, educational, relational, etc...) that rural areas have assumed, which have become much more than mere places for the production of foods. The Rural Development Program (RDP) of the European Union supports agriculture and encourages it in the direction of socio-economic and environmental sustainability, through a plurality of heterogeneous measures. Among these, there are some dedicated to young people, but none addressed to women. Yet it could be exactly women, which are more numerous in multifunctional agricultural activities (agritourism, short chain, social and educational farms, etc.), to ensure the sustainability of rural areas. This paper presents a research on the female agricultural entrepreneurship in Piedmont, undertaken in order to further discuss the role of women in agriculture and the existence or not of a feminine approach to the management of the agricultural enterprise, in pathways and business decisions. Using the biographical approach, 25 in-depth interviews were conducted. The in-depth qualitative investigation, made possible by the collection and analysis of the life histories, has allowed exploring issues such as: · the role of training in daily work and in the path of entrepreneurship; · the relationship existing between business and organizations devoted to training; · the influence exercised by rural development policies on female agricultural entrepreneurship; · the opinions that women have towards the quality of their work and private life; · the perception of the possibility of balance between work and private life offered by the agricultural sector; · the participation of women in the agricultural decision-making system. The results lead to the conclusion that, in order to improve the technical and economic aspects of agriculture, policy makers should develop new tools dedicated to women to encourage their training and participation in decision-making. In terms of implementation of policies for sustainable development in rural areas, decision-makers should pay close attention to the peculiarities of female entrepreneurship, since their contribution in this area is very important.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
