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Sustainable Strategies for Enhancing Farmers' Income in Rural Development
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Sustainable Strategies for Enhancing Farmers' Income in Rural Development

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2026) | Viewed by 5010

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Boris Prevolšek

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Tourism, University of Maribor, Brežice, Slovenia
Interests: sustainable rural development; rural entrepreneurship; agricultural economics; climate-smart agriculture; farmer empowerment; rural policy and governance; short food supply chains
Prof. Dr. Črtomir Rozman

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
Interests: sustainable rural tourism; farm tourism; rural entrepreneurship and diversification; short supply chains
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Rural development is undergoing rapid transformation as communities face pressures from climate change, market volatility, technological change, and shifting social expectations. Traditional growth-oriented approaches are no longer sufficient; instead, sustainable rural development now demands integrated attention to economic resilience, environmental stewardship, and social well-being.

This Special Issue focuses on strategies that enhance the sustainability, adaptability, and prosperity of rural areas and farming households. We welcome research examining policy reforms, institutional dynamics, technological and digital innovations, market mechanisms, and socio-cultural drivers that shape rural transformation. Both conceptual and empirical contributions are encouraged.

We welcome contributions that explore, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  • Climate and circular farming practices;
  • Diversification strategies for smallholders;
  • Agritourism and tourism-related rural entrepreneurship;
  • Short food supply chains and local branding;
  • Cooperative models and community-supported agriculture;
  • Digital and smart-farming tools improving resource efficiency;
  • Governance innovations supporting rural sustainability.

Dr. Boris Prevolšek
Prof. Dr. Črtomir Rozman
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable rural development
  • agricultural economics
  • farmer empowerment
  • climate-smart agriculture
  • rural policy and governance
  • green and digital transformation
  • food security and resilience
  • circular bioeconomy
  • rural entrepreneurship
  • short food supply chains

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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24 pages, 823 KB  
Article
Domestic and European Union Funds in Poland’s Agricultural Budget in 2004–2025: Interrelationships and Interdependencies
by Andrzej Czyżewski, Ryszard Kata and Anna Matuszczak
Agriculture 2026, 16(9), 939; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16090939 - 24 Apr 2026
Viewed by 962
Abstract
This article analyses budgetary expenditures on agriculture and rural development in Poland in 2004–2025, i.e., after Poland’s accession to the European Union (EU). The study examines the size, real dynamics, and structure of total agricultural budget expenditures, including both national budgetary funds and [...] Read more.
This article analyses budgetary expenditures on agriculture and rural development in Poland in 2004–2025, i.e., after Poland’s accession to the European Union (EU). The study examines the size, real dynamics, and structure of total agricultural budget expenditures, including both national budgetary funds and EU funds allocated through the instruments of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The analysis assesses the importance of EU budget funds for the level and structure of public expenditures on agriculture and rural development in Poland and attempts to determine the relationship between national and EU funds. The study employed time series analysis, structural analysis, and an analysis of the interdependence of variables (i.e., correlation and multiple regression). It was found that during the 22 years of EU membership, budgetary expenditures on agriculture, agricultural markets, and rural development in Poland were strongly determined by the volume of European funds, which accounted for the sharp increase in Poland’s agricultural budget compared with the pre-accession period. Compared with 2003 levels, expenditure rose by an average of 162% in nominal terms and 129% in real terms. EU funds also acted as a stabilising factor for the size of this budget throughout the analysed period. The proportion of European funds in Poland’s agricultural budget (PAB) rose sharply in the early years of Poland’s EU membership (2004–2011), increasing from 20.1% to 48.7%. However, it remained relatively stable in subsequent years, averaging 47.8%. Nevertheless, the appreciation of the Polish zloty against the euro caused the real value of these expenditures to decline, a trend that became apparent from 2017 onwards. This resulted in the need to increase expenditures from the national budget and led to national funds assuming a greater share of the financial burden of supporting agriculture. Between 2017 and 2025, the share of EU funds in the PAB fell from 43% to 33.1% (averaging 40.3%). The structure of expenditures within the CAP evolved over time as a result of changes in CAP priorities, although farmers’ income support as well as assistance for the modernization and improvement of the competitiveness of Polish agriculture remained key objectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Strategies for Enhancing Farmers' Income in Rural Development)
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15 pages, 533 KB  
Article
Combining Agriculture and Tourism: Ways to Promote the Interconnections Between Environment, Development and Sustainability
by Vítor João Pereira Domingues Martinho
Agriculture 2026, 16(7), 760; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16070760 - 29 Mar 2026
Viewed by 710
Abstract
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), as one of the most prominent European Union policies, has increased concerns about the environmental sustainability of farms, particularly since its major reform in 1992. The changes implemented since this reform have intended to promote more integrated rural [...] Read more.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), as one of the most prominent European Union policies, has increased concerns about the environmental sustainability of farms, particularly since its major reform in 1992. The changes implemented since this reform have intended to promote more integrated rural development, with deeper interrelationships between the agricultural sector and other rural activities, including agritourism, from the perspective of diversification of the activities that can be developed on farms and in rural areas. The idea of this strategy is to bring more income for farmers by changing the policy measures and enhancing a more sustainable agricultural and rural development. Nonetheless, the interrelationships between the diversification of activities in the agricultural sector and the characteristics of the farms have not yet been fully explored. In this context, this research aims to bring more insight into how agritourism revenues can be predicted by the farm characteristics in the European Union (UE) agricultural regions, considering data from FADN (Farm Accountancy Data Network), for 2023, using machine learning algorithms (following IBM SPSS Modeler Version 18.4 procedures). The results obtained show that agritourism output is higher in EU countries with larger farms (Slovakia and Czechia) and that are more economically dynamic (Netherlands and Denmark). Slovenia, Austria, Italy, and Finland are countries in which farms have a higher part of agritourism revenues in the total output. There is space to better explore agritourism potentialities and to improve the availability of data. When the total crop output increases by 1%, agritourism revenue grows by 0.719%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Strategies for Enhancing Farmers' Income in Rural Development)
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31 pages, 4857 KB  
Article
Who Reaches the Consumer? A Network Analysis of Market Reach Factors of Slovakia’s Short Food Supply Chains
by Lukáš Varecha, Jana Jarábková and Michal Hrivnák
Agriculture 2026, 16(6), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16060649 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 571
Abstract
The aim of this study is to identify the factors that shape the ability of producers in short food supply chains in Slovakia to utilize different types of distribution channels and to penetrate higher-demand markets. The analysis was based on a database compiled [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to identify the factors that shape the ability of producers in short food supply chains in Slovakia to utilize different types of distribution channels and to penetrate higher-demand markets. The analysis was based on a database compiled from a public SFSC platform, comprising 986 agri-food producers, 1434 points of sale, and 1908 producer–point of sale ties. The data were analyzed as a two-mode network using ERGM models. The results show that most producers remain tied to local direct sales, while access to more demanding channels and distant markets is concentrated among a small group of actors. The study shows that the functioning of SFSCs in Slovakia is strongly shaped by producer size, value added, and the form of production organization. Organic certification emerges as a key tool of product differentiation that enhances ability to access distant and urban markets, although its importance in a post-socialist context is highly dependent on market characteristics. Family farms are selectively able to supply distant markets, while cooperatives, despite their expected association with commodity-oriented production, are able to overcome capacity and logistical barriers within SFSCs, indicating the emergence of new collaborative structures and business models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Strategies for Enhancing Farmers' Income in Rural Development)
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31 pages, 1791 KB  
Article
Behavioral Factors Influencing Agro-Ecological Strategy Adoption: A UTAUT-Based Analysis of Organic Farmers in Małopolska, Poland
by Masoomeh Shemshad, Agnieszka Klimek-Kopyra, Marcin Kopyra and Ewa Szpunar-Krok
Agriculture 2026, 16(4), 477; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16040477 - 20 Feb 2026
Viewed by 653
Abstract
The transition toward sustainable agriculture has increased interest in agroecological strategies (AS), which aim to reduce chemical inputs while enhancing environmental and socio-economic resilience. Despite growing policy support, adoption remains limited, suggesting that farmers’ behavioral intention (BI) alone may not fully capture the [...] Read more.
The transition toward sustainable agriculture has increased interest in agroecological strategies (AS), which aim to reduce chemical inputs while enhancing environmental and socio-economic resilience. Despite growing policy support, adoption remains limited, suggesting that farmers’ behavioral intention (BI) alone may not fully capture the complexity of agroecological uptake. This study aims to identify and validate key behavioral constructs associated with farmers’ intention to use AS, applying the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) as a conceptual and measurement framework. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 188 farmers engaged in agroecological farming in the Małopolska region of Poland. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to validate the measurement model and assess the reliability and validity of four latent constructs: Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Social Influence (SI), and Facilitating Conditions (FCs). Following model refinement, 17 measurement items were retained. All constructs demonstrated strong internal consistency and convergent validity (Composite Reliability > 0.85; Average Variance Extracted > 0.70). The highest standardized factor loadings were observed for “ease of learning” within EE (λ = 0.995), “reduction of production costs” within PE (λ = 0.990), and “access to organizational support” within FC (λ = 0.985). BI exhibited a very high factor loading (BI2, λ = 0.998), indicating strong commitment among current agroecological farmers. Descriptive findings further point to limited institutional participation and extension support, highlighting the prominence of structural conditions within the validated measurement framework. The main contribution of this study lies in the empirical validation of the UTAUT-based measurement instrument for agroecological contexts and in emphasizing the salience of institutional and facilitating dimensions in relation to farmers’ BI toward agroecological transitions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Strategies for Enhancing Farmers' Income in Rural Development)
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23 pages, 1432 KB  
Article
The Impact of Common Agricultural Policy Eco-Schemes on Crop Structure Simplification and Crop Diversity in Poland: A Regional Assessment
by Marek Zieliński, Sławomir Juszczyk, Sebastian Jarzebowski, Brigitte Petersen and Alejandro Guzmán Rivera
Agriculture 2026, 16(3), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16030386 - 6 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 880 | Correction
Abstract
Enhancing crop diversity is a key pillar of the EU’s 2023–2027 CAP eco-schemes, yet Poland’s long-standing crop simplification raises doubts about the policy’s effectiveness. This study assesses the determinants of crop structure and crop diversity in Poland and evaluates whether eco-schemes generate measurable [...] Read more.
Enhancing crop diversity is a key pillar of the EU’s 2023–2027 CAP eco-schemes, yet Poland’s long-standing crop simplification raises doubts about the policy’s effectiveness. This study assesses the determinants of crop structure and crop diversity in Poland and evaluates whether eco-schemes generate measurable improvements at farm and municipal scales. A multilevel approach integrates municipality-level saturation with ecological interventions (eco-schemes, organic farming, and agri-environment–climate measures) with longitudinal data from 192 purposively selected farms across all 16 voivodeships for 2016, 2021, and 2024. Crop diversity is measured using the Shannon–Wiener index (H′), combined with indicators of specialization, farm size, and participation in CAP instruments. Spatial and temporal comparisons reveal that farms engaged in commercial animal production maintain simplified crop structures, which is associated with specialization as a dominant factor in low diversity. Maize share increased steadily from 12.4% to 16.7%, signalling ongoing homogenization, particularly in livestock-intensive regions. Contrary to earlier assumptions, smaller farms did not exhibit higher diversity, suggesting organizational constraints. At the municipal level, greater saturation with eco-schemes and organic farming was associated with higher H′ values, while areas with strong agri-environment–climate presence—often mountainous—showed lower diversity due to biophysical limits. The findings highlight structural barriers that may limit eco-scheme impacts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Strategies for Enhancing Farmers' Income in Rural Development)
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1 pages, 126 KB  
Correction
Correction: Zieliński et al. The Impact of Common Agricultural Policy Eco-Schemes on Crop Structure Simplification and Crop Diversity in Poland: A Regional Assessment. Agriculture 2026, 16, 386
by Marek Zieliński, Sławomir Juszczyk, Sebastian Jarzebowski, Brigitte Petersen and Alejandro Guzmán Rivera
Agriculture 2026, 16(7), 792; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16070792 - 3 Apr 2026
Viewed by 362
Abstract
Marek Zieliński was not included as an author in the original publication [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Strategies for Enhancing Farmers' Income in Rural Development)
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