young farmers and information & communication technologies (icts)
DESCRIPTION
Family farming is a predominant form of agriculture both in developed and developing countries, with over 500 million productive units in the entire world, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAO is promoting 2014 as the international year of family farming. This particular form of agriculture work refers to farms that are managed by family members and are usually small or medium in size and productivity. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are playing a key role in this scenario. New generations, mainly, are in permanent movement, conceiving the two spaces as complementary. Mobile phones, particularly, are providing today a great platform to connect them to the "rurbanity," a new (key) concept to understand hybrid spaces where cities and the countryside are part of the same social reality.TRANSCRIPT
Mapping the social and technological trajectories of “rurban” youth
YOUNG FARMERS AND ICT
Matias E. Centeno
PhD in Social CommunicationNational University of Rosario (Argentina)
WHERE I COME FROM …
Local Development & Extension Unit - San LuisNational Institute of Agriculture Technologies – INTA (Argentina)
Communication DepartmentNational University of San Luis (Argentina)
Research Facts
Methodology
Context in
Washington State
Analytical
Framework
Preliminary
Findings
… WHERE DO I WANT TO GO
Young Farmers & ICT
RESEARCH FACTS
ICT are introducing diverse changes in family farming practices
At the communication, organizational and social level
Generating intergenerational tensions
PROBLEM
Agriculture… has been renewed by ICTs?
What is driving this change?
How is ICT relevant for agricultural development?
What role is youth playing under this scenario?
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
To understand the different meanings of youth and the diverse ways to be young.
To study the role of ICT in the countryside and family farming.
To explore the social changes in rural areas.
To think about the farmers of the future.
RESEARCH GOALS
METHODOLOGY
Open interviews
Participant observation
Focus groups
Workshops
Censal data analysis
METHODOLOGY
Field work in four countries
ArgentinaSan Luis province
Started in 2013 and continuing in 2015
200 young people involved in surveys, workshops and focus groups
METHODOLOGY
Field work in four countries
USAWashington State
42 people interviewed in the State
METHODOLOGY
Field work in four countries
SpainCatalunya Region
To be completed in September to December 2014
METHODOLOGY
Field work in four countries
ItalyReggio Emilia Province Projected
METHODOLOGY
CONTEXT IN WASHINGTON STATE
Agriculture has a relevant contribution to Washington Economy.
Farming population is decreasing (rural too).
Average age of farmers keeps climbing.
The challenge of the generational shift in family farming.
Different notions of youth.
ICT plataform in rural and urban areas.
WHY DO WE CARE?
$49 Billion revenue
160,000 jobs
13% of the state’s
overall economy
Source: Washington Farm Bureau (2014)
Agriculture has a relevant contribution to Washington Economy.
Farming population is decreasing (rural too).
Average age of farmers keeps climbing.
The challenge of the generational shift in family farming.
Different notions of youth.
ICT plataform in rural and urban areas.
WHY DO WE CARE?
2007 2012
Farms
-9,5%
National average: -1.6%Source: 2012 Census of Agriculture
USDA / NASS
Agriculture has a relevant contribution to Washington Economy.
Farming population is decreasing (rural too).
Average age of farmers keeps climbing.
The challenge of the generational shift in family farming.
Different notions of youth.
ICT plataform in rural and urban areas.
WHY DO WE CARE?
2000 2010
Rural popu-lation
-4,9%
National average: -8%Source: US Census Bureau
Agriculture has a relevant contribution to Washington Economy.
Farming population is decreasing (rural too).
Average age of farmers keeps climbing.
The challenge of the generational shift in family farming.
Different notions of youth.
ICT plataform in rural and urban areas.
WHY DO WE CARE?
2007 2012
57
58.8
Average age of farmers
National average: 57,1 (2007) – 58,3 (2012)Source: 2012 Census of Agriculture
USDA / NASS
Agriculture has a relevant contribution to Washington Economy.
Farming population is decreasing (rural too).
Average age of farmers keeps climbing.
The challenge of the generational shift in family farming.
Different notions of youth.
ICT plataform in rural and urban areas.
WHY DO WE CARE?
2007 2012
Farmers over 55 years old
+7,1%
Source: 2012 Census of Agriculture USDA / NASS
Agriculture has a relevant contribution to Washington Economy.
Farming population is decreasing (rural too).
Average age of farmers keeps climbing.
The challenge of the generational shift in family farming.
Different notions of youth.
ICT plataform in rural and urban areas.
WHY DO WE CARE?
© Bill Dickinson CC License
Agriculture has a relevant contribution to Washington Economy.
Farming population is decreasing (rural too).
Average age of farmers keeps climbing.
The challenge of the generational shift in family farming.
Different notions of youth.
ICT plataform in rural and urban areas.
WHY DO WE CARE?
ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK
June to August 2014
13 locations in 6 Counties
42 people interviewed Farmers Organizations Companies Public officials Students Educators
Elma (GH)Everett (Sn)Lacey (T)Mounut Vernon (Sk)Oakville (GH)Olympia (T) Outlook (Y)Redmond (K)Seattle (K)Sunnyside (Y)Wapato (Y)Yakima (Y)Zillah (Y)
THE WASHINGTON STATE RIDE
Institutiona
l
Policy
Socio -
Generational
Media -
Tech
ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS
Types of young
farmersNarrativesRurbanity
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS
1. Breakers2. Wait & seers3. Hobby-Farmers4. Connected5. New farmers
YOUTH IN FRONT OF FAMILY FARMING
Types of young
farmers
Rural young decide to not continue with farming.
Several of them leave the countryside and became urban.
Why? Because they don’t like farming; Want to study; want an urban life; follow their friends; don’t agree with the family management; or feel that they don’t have an opportunity to introduce
changes in the family organization.
BREAKERS
Rural youth believe that they need to wait for the right time to take on the company and introduce changes.
This youth continue with family farming, but not always in the same area as their parents or not with the same methodology.
WAIT & SEERS
They studied or leave the family organization but are still connected with agriculture from other positions (educator, public offi cer, company employee).
Usually they collaborate with the family by providing information, knowledge or know-how.
CONNECTED
They leave the farm but returning in holidays or some weekends to help in some specific task.
They do it for fun or family commitment.
Maybe one day they will be come back …
HOBBY FARMERS
Urban dwellers interested in farming. Some of them leaves the cities and start a new life in the countryside, mixing urban and rural lifestyles.
Several are the fi rst generation of new farmers.
Anothers stay in the cities but start working in agriculture, providing services to new and older farmers.
NEW FARMERS
YOUTH IN FRONT OF FAMILY FARMING
Young people are introducingICTs in farming management
In some cases, they are providing Trainning for adults
Also, there are “tech-mediators” (non profit organizations) that provide access to a variety of digitaltools
Young farmers prefermanagement positions thanfield work.
Critical manpower problem
Youth
ICT provide the opportunity to do farm work more visible. Web. Social media (Facebook, in particular).
For the first time, farmers can tell their own history by themeselves Socio-Tech spaces, channels for their voice
Consumers have access to the process, and the chance to get involved with the human history and social experience behind their daily products.
Farmers are discovering new marketing tools.
The narratives of farming are renewed. Re-appreciation of rural environments The key rol of farmers in daily living
THE HUMAN SIDE OF TOMATOES
Narratives
THE HUMAN SIDE OF TOMATOES
Seattle
THE HUMAN SIDE OF TOMATOES
Walla-Walla
THE HUMAN SIDE OF TOMATOES
Oakville
THE HUMAN SIDE OF TOMATOES
Yakima
Traditional approaches where cities (modernity) and countryside (stagnation) are completed isolated.
New generations are breaking with this point of view. Impulse the conceptions of hibrid spaces Contribute to the socio-territorial
reconfigurations.
Rurbanity: new (key) concept to understand some socio-territorial changes in agriculture.
Youth multi trajectories They are in permanent movement. They conceive the two spaces as complementary,
than opposed ICT providing spaces to connect the rurbanity Mobile phones are the main tool of rurbanity
RURAL-URBAN HIBRIDITY
Rural
Urban
Rural
Urban
Mapping the social and technological trajectories of “rurban” youth
YOUNG FARMERS AND ICT
Thank you!
Matias Ezequiel [email protected]@inta.gob.ar
www.inta.gob.ar/sanluiswww.geninternet.com.ar