Gittins, P. orcid.org/0000-0001-6669-2239, Apostolopoulos, S., Anastasopoulou, E.E. et al. (1 more author) (2025) Responding to Greece's constrained agricultural context: Farm diversification strategies used by family farmers. Journal of Rural Studies, 113. 103522. ISSN 0743-0167
Abstract
This paper builds on the emerging literature concerning constrained rural entrepreneurship. We explore the context of rural Greece, examining the utility of farm diversification strategies used by farmers to respond to industry constraints. Adopting a multi-method approach, this qualitative study theorises the ‘present realities’ of Greek farming families. Through a multiple case study exploration of five family farms, which includes twenty-five in-depth semi-structured interviews with members of these farm families, we explore farmers' lived experiences in relation to their constrained institutional contexts. Our qualitative analysis, which identifies four original themes, leads to the theorisation of the exogenous and internal challenges within the sector that continue to constrain rural entrepreneurial potential. Findings highlight how farmers' diversification strategies are crucial in enabling farm family households to respond effectively to the sector's increasing challenges, ensuring business survival. These diversification strategies offer significant benefits to farmers, providing sufficient value-added activities that support rural retention within farm family households. Implications for practice and policy suggest a greater need for the development of entrepreneurial and strategic skill sets. Further research is needed to help establish a conducive—not constraining—environment that supports farm entrepreneurship strategies.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
Keywords: | Constrained institutional contexts; Rural entrepreneurship; Farm diversification; Farm strategies |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Business (Leeds) > Management Division (LUBS) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 02 Dec 2024 16:51 |
Last Modified: | 02 Dec 2024 16:51 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103522 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:220294 |