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Exploring risk management strategies for organic farmers: A Greek case study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2013

Irene Tzouramani ,
George Alexopoulos ,
Giorgos Kostianis  and
Leonidas Kazakopoulos
Irene Tzouramani*
Affiliation:
Agricultural Economics and Policy Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization (DEMETER), Greece
George Alexopoulos
Affiliation:
Agricultural University of Athens, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Greece
Giorgos Kostianis
Affiliation:
Agricultural University of Athens, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Greece
Leonidas Kazakopoulos
Affiliation:
Agricultural University of Athens, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Greece
*
*Corresponding author: tzouramani.inagrop@nagref.gr
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Abstract

This study attempts to enrich the debate on the different forms of risk management strategies that are utilized by organic farmers and to assess the internal dynamics within the organic farming community by examining the attitudes and practices of these farmers. In particular, using a factor analysis, this study determines the attitudes of Greek farmers toward risk management strategies and focuses on the differences in risk attitudes between existing organic farmers and non-organic farmers. Second, using a probit analysis, this study characterizes the key factors that affect Greek farmers' attitudes with respect to risk management strategies. The thorough presentation of this research study provides essential information to policy-makers for understanding the factors that induce farmers to participate in organic agriculture. Moreover, the analysis of the risk management strategies that organic farmers apply is expected to offer valuable insights that will be critical for the timely introduction and efficient application of the forthcoming post-2013 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) measures.

Keywords

organic agriculturerisk managementagriculture policy
Type
Research Papers
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , June 2014 , pp. 167 - 175
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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