An Application of the Fuzzy Method in the Analysis of Family Farms
Keywords:
agriculture, family farm, part-time farm, fuzzy modell, households.Abstract
One of the most important characteristics of new EU member states consists in the fact that the importance of agriculture and rural areas is much higher than in the EU15 states. This is especially true with reference to Romania where even among the new member states the economic and social importance of agriculture is especially prominent. As in most of the new member states a dual agricultural structure has formed in Romania as well. This situation raises several questions to be answered: what are the reasons and how these processes evolve following the EU accession? That is: can small farms survive, will the heirs want to continue farming? In order to achieve our research goals we have used several data sources and different study methods. Beyond literature, official documents and case studies we used interviews conducted with local specialists, as well as statements and grant application materials made available to us locally. With reference to questionnairing we applied the gradual (multistage) random selection. In conformity with the problem to be examined and the nature of farms we did not consider farms, but households as accounting or questioning units. As a result of our research we may assume that present land structure will not undergo fundamental change in the upcoming years. We may assert this both on the basis of the conducted interviews and founded on the fuzzy model drawn up on the database of our questionnairing. Thus it seems that the agricultural structure of Szeklerland is quite „crisis resistant.‖ This is partially due to social determinants, partially to economic incentives and constraints (increasing food prices, lack of jobs, low income, etc.).References
Arkleton, T. (1989). Rural Change in Europe: Research Programme on Farm Struktures and Pluriactivity, Nethy Bridge, U.K.
Benedek, J. (2006). Területfejlesztés és regionális fejlődés (Territorial Development and Regional Development), Cluj Napoca University Press, Cluj Napoca
BÃró, A., Gagyi, J., Oláh, S. (1994). Gazdálkodási gyakorlat a Székelyföldön. A paraszti mentalitás működése a gazdálkodásban és korlátozó szerepe a piacgazdaság kialakulásában. [Farming Practices in the Szeklerland. Peasant Mentality’s Functioning in Farming and its Delimiting Role in the Formation of Market Economy], Antroplógiai Műhely [Anthropology Workshop] 1.(4.), p. 7-39
Buchenrieder, G. et. al. (2007). Conceptual Framework for Analysing Structural Change in Agriculture and Rural Livehoods. IAMO, Discussion Paper No. 113, Halle
Cingolani, P., Alcala-Fdez, J. (2012). "jFuzzyLogic: a robust and flexible Fuzzy-Logic inference system language implementation." Fuzzy Systems (FUZZ-IEEE), IEEE International Conference
Elek, S. (1994). Részmunkaidõs farmok a fejlett országokban [Part-Time Farms in Developed Countries] in: Szociológiai Szemle [Sociological Review] No. 1/1994
Elek, S., Fogarasi, J. (2009). A romániai agrárgazdaság EU csatlakozásának elsÅ‘ tapasztalatai. [First Experiences of Romanian Agriculture’s EU Accession] in: Csata, Andrea – Elek, Sándor (eds.): Gazdaságpolitika – vidékfejlesztés. Az európai uniós tagság kihÃvásai Székelyföldön. [Economic Policy – Regional Development. Challenges of European Union Membership in Szeklerland] Scientia, Cluj Napoca
Fritzsh, J., Buchenrieder, G., Möllers, J. (2010). Non Farm Diversification of Rural Households in Central and Southeastern Europe: an Aplication of Fuzzy Set Thyeory, paper presented at 118th EAAE Seminar, Ljubjana
Fuguitt, G. V. (1959). Part-Time Farming and the Push-Pull Hypothesis. American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 64. No. 4. p. 375-379
Fuguitt, G. V. (1961). A Typology of the Part-Time Farmers, Rural Sociology, Vol. 26. No.1.
Fuller, A. M. (1984). Part-Time Farming: The Enigmas and the Realities, Research in Rural Sociology and Development, Volume 1: Focus on Agriculture, Schwarzweller, H.(ed): Jai Press, Grenwich, Conn
Gasson, R. et al. (1988). The Farm as a Family Business, Journal of Agricultural Economics, 39 (1): p. 1-41
Ghib, M. L., Larkham, K. L. L. (2009). Small Farm in Romania: Evolution under Localization Constraint? Seminar „Small Farms: Decline or Persistence‖, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK, poster paper
Hann, C. (1987). Worker-Peasants in the Three World, in Shamin, T. (ed): Peasants and Peasant Societies, Oxford, Basil Blackwell
Hargita megye középtávú stratégiai fejlesztési terve 2002-2013. [Medium-Term Strategic Development Plan of Harghita County 2002-2013.]
Horváth, G. (ed.). (2003). Székelyföld [Szeklerland] MTA – Regionális Kutatások Központja [Hungarian Academy of Sciences – Center of Regional Studies.], Dialóg Campus, Budapest-Pécs
Schütz, N. (2006). Románia és Bulgária EU-csatlakozásának hatása agrárgazdaságukra [The Effects of Romania’s and Bulgaria’s EU-Accession on our Agriculture] – Conference Material. - Balkán: együttműködés vagy verseny a mezőgazdálkodásban. [The Balkans: Cooperation or Competition in Agriculture]
Pasti, V., Miroiu, M., Codita, C. (1996). Romania – starea de fapt, [Romania – State of Affairs] vol. I., Societatea, Nemira, Bucharest
Péter, E. K. - Földbirtokváltozás Romániában. [Land Ownership Change in Romania] in: Csata, Andrea – Elek, Sándor (eds.): Gazdaságpolitika – vidékfejlesztés. Az európai uniós tagság kihÃvásai Székelyföldön. [Economic Policy – Regional Development. Challenges of European Union Membership in Szeklerland.] Scientia, Cluj Napoca, under publication.
Péter, P. (2005). Udvarhelyszéki kistérségek agrár-környezetvédelmi vizsgálata. [Agricultural-Environmental Study of Micro-regions from Odorhei County] Conference material
Sepsiszéki Nagy, B. (2000). Székelyföld falvai a Huszadik század végén CsÃk – Kászon és Gyergyószék, [Szeklerland’s Villages at the End of the Twentieth Century. Ciuc—Casin and Gheorgheni Counties] Nap, Budapest
Summer, D. R. (1982). The Off Farm Labour Supply of Farmers. American Journal of Agricultural Economics. Vol.64. August, p. 499-510
Székelyudvarhely Fenntartható Stratégiája - Helyzetelemzés, [Sustainability Strategy of Odorheiu Secuiesc – Situation Analysis, 2008.]
Şerbănescu, C., Giurca, D., Rusali, M. (2005). The Romanian Agri-Food Trade 1998-2003: a Top-Ten Analysis, in: Globalization, European Integration and Economic Transformation, Edited by Gábor Fóti and Tamás Novák, Budapest
Vofkori, L. (1997). Település- és területfejlesztés Udvarhely térségében (Regionális fejlesztési koncepció és területrendezési kerettanulmány). [Settlement- and Territorial Development in the Region of Odorheiu Secuiesc. (Regional Development Concept and Land-Use Planning Frame Study.)]
Vofkori, L. (2004). Utazások Székelyföldön. [Journeys in Szeklerland.] Pro-Print, Miercurea Ciuc.
Zadeh, L. A. (1965). "Fuzzy sets and systems", in Fox J, editor. System Theory. Brooklyn, NY: Polytechnic Press: p. 29–39.
