Szanse i bariery rozwoju rolnictwa ekologicznego a wielofunkcyjny rozwój obszarów wiejskich i rolnictwa w opinii wybranych rolników ekologicznych na Dolnym Śląsku
Opportunities and threats to the development of organic farming in the context of multifunctional rural and agriculture development in the opinion of selected organic farmers in Lower Silesia

Summary/Abstract: The article focuses on opportunities and threats to the development of organic farming in the perspective of two paradoxes: firstly, a paradox between multifunctional rural development and multifunctional agriculture development, since the core of the first concept marginalises agriculture although it is simultaneously suggested that multifunctional agriculture is necessary to ensure the quality of rusticity in the rural areas. Secondly, there is a paradox between two social roles of organic farmers: they are expected to guarantee rusticity, but they are also business people who need to sell their produce and it may lead to a significant reduction of their role to a mere economic category. To examine the chances and barriers the authors have conducted ten semi-structured interviews with purposely chosen organic farmers from Lower Silesia. Results show that organic farmers marginalise one of their social roles, of a businessman, through demarcation of their production (growth cannot be too big), so the biggest chance to develop organic farming is to sell directly using short supply chains. The results also suggest that the most important barrier which limits organic farming, is separation between the place where safe food is produced (the rural area) and a place where farmers sell their food (the city) which is perceived by the farmers as almost insurmountable. The results should help in better understanding of social and economic aspects of organic farming.

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