Should I stay or should I go? Factors affecting farmers' decision to convert to organic farming as well as to abandon it.

Abstract

The current piece of work utilises data drawn from a survey conducted in the Western Greece region (2004) and concerns the exploration of the differences between a) conventional and organic farmers and, most important, b) organic farmers who intend to continue organic farming and organic farmers who intend to re- convert to conventional farming. Analysis shows that the conversion to organic farming relates positively to factors such as age, farm size, farmer's innovativeness and farm planning along with perceptions about markets and the contribution of organic farming to environmental protection as well as the influence of 'important others'. On the other hand, less innovative and pluriactive farmers, owning larger farms, experiencing low prices and without supportive networks seem more likely to abandon organic farming. Given the deficiencies of organic farming in Greece (training, markets, etc.) the present piece of work aims at critically discussing the aforementioned research findings and detect measures that (will) allow for consistent farmers' involvement in organic farming.