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How organic farmers view their own practice: results from the Czech Republic

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  • Lukas Zagata

Abstract

This paper addresses the development of organic agriculture in the Czech Republic, which is seen as a success story among post-communist countries. The relatively short history of organic farming and specific contextual factors raises questions about the nature and meaning of Czech organic farming. The goal of this study was to find out how farmers view their own practice, interpret its symbolic value, and construct its content. This empirical study uses Q methodology aimed at the identification of the collectively-shared perspectives belonging engaged actors. Data were gathered through semi-standardized interviews with Czech farmers registered in official organic scheme. The analysis emphasized three components, which are considered as three distinct perspectives possessed by organic farmers; that is, (1) organic farming as a way of life, (2) as an occupation, and (3) as a production of food of an alternative quality compared to conventional food. Each viewpoint entails a different understanding of what organic farming means; each then—when considered together—comprises the meaning of organic agriculture in the Czech Republic. The presented classification of the farmers holding the viewpoints contributes to the ongoing theoretical discussion regarding the nature of the current organic sector, its development and potential conventionalization. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010

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  • Lukas Zagata, 2010. "How organic farmers view their own practice: results from the Czech Republic," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 27(3), pages 277-290, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:27:y:2010:i:3:p:277-290
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-009-9230-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John Fairweather, 1999. "Understanding how farmers choose between organic and conventional production: Results from New Zealand and policy implications," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 16(1), pages 51-63, March.
    2. Ika Darnhofer & Walter Schneeberger & Bernhard Freyer, 2005. "Converting or not converting to organic farming in Austria:Farmer types and their rationale," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 22(1), pages 39-52, March.
    3. Henning Best, 2008. "Organic agriculture and the conventionalization hypothesis: A case study from West Germany," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 25(1), pages 95-106, January.
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    2. Petr Kment & Lucie Kocmánková, 2012. "Rural and environmental concern - focus on the Czech Republic," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 58(4), pages 191-199.
    3. Zagata, Lukas & Uhnak, Tomas & Hrabák, Jiří, 2021. "Moderately radical? Stakeholders' perspectives on societal roles and transformative potential of organic agriculture," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    4. Leonhardt, Heidi & Braito, Michael & Uehleke, Reinhard, 2021. "Who participates in agri-environmental schemes? A mixed-methods approach to investigate the role of farmer archetypes in scheme uptake and participation level," FORLand Working Papers 27 (2021), Humboldt University Berlin, DFG Research Unit 2569 FORLand "Agricultural Land Markets – Efficiency and Regulation".
    5. Heidi Leonhardt & Michael Braito & Reinhard Uehleke, 2022. "Combining the best of two methodological worlds? Integrating Q methodology-based farmer archetypes in a quantitative model of agri-environmental scheme uptake," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(1), pages 217-232, March.
    6. Aygun E. Guliyeva & Marcin Lis, 2020. "Sustainability Management of Organic Food Organizations: A Case Study of Azerbaijan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-20, June.
    7. Buckley, Cathal, 2012. "Implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive in the Republic of Ireland — A view from the farm," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 29-36.
    8. Jiří, Průša & Ondřej, Konečný & Jiří, Hrabák & Michal, Lošťák, 2022. "Beyond the story of the LEADER projects: Are organic farmers actors of multifunctionality and rural development?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    9. Miloslav LAPKA & Eva CUDLÍNOVÁ & J. Sanford RIKOON & Martin PĚLUCHA & Viktor KVETOŇ, 2011. "Rural development in the context of agricultural "green" subsidies: Czech farmers' responses," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 57(6), pages 259-271.

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