0000000001086784
AUTHOR
M. Di Gesaro
Agriculture in a Sicilian inland area: Strategies and motivations of conversion towards multifunctional activities
The main topic of the paper concerns multifunctional farms, their activities and motivations for starting up, and on the other hand visitor satisfaction. To this purpose, a preliminary sample survey was carried out addressed to 13 farms in 3 Sicilian provinces. The aim was to identify positive and negative aspects of the services offered. The most relevant findings of the survey are the variety of activities and services, a widespread use of internet services, efficient means of communications and a significant growth in labour force. On the other side, long time is generally needed in order to obtain administrative authorizations or to carry out farm plants, as well as excessive pay-back t…
Monumental trees and their existence value: the case study of an Italian natural park
The paper deals with the evaluation of the existence value of monumental trees in a protected area. Financial resources to be destined for protection interventions have been decreasing more and more, with a high risk of losing this natural heritage. A Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) survey was carried out among the Madonie Park (Sicily, Italy) resident households to evaluate the existence value of monumental trees of the nature trail named "Piano Sempria-Piano Pomo", represented by a population of "Giant hollies" and by 7 other individual trees. These are the main results of the CVM survey: the overall response rate was 40%, individual average WTPs ( Willingness To Pay ) were €12.37 for t…
Understanding consumer demand for sustainable beef production in rural communities
In the past two decades, due to the series of crises within the agro-food system, such as BSE, dioxin, and foot and mouth disease, consumer demand for sustainable production has considerably grown in European society. Consumers seem to frame food quality in terms of social and environmental aspects of productions, which may be recognized through a certification labelling or through a system of food quality criteria that give rise to conventions of quality. The aim of our study was to understand how food quality and labelling are assessed by rural population in Southern Italy. Local beef production with sustainable voluntary certification was the focus of our empirical strategy. Our decision…
Implementation and prospects of the rural development policy in Sicily to support young farmers
The paper analyses the implementation of the RDP 2007-2013 for Sicily up to 31/12/2013, with particular reference to the Measure 112 and its related measures (Young People Package). By collecting and subsequently analysing different information categories (financial, physical, procedural and expert opinion) it’s clear the remarkable success of the Measure 112 in terms of eligible applications, of which only 1/3 funded, due to the limited programmed budget. Referring to the integrated approach, also through the “face to face” interviews to the regional officials, it emerges the low expenditure speed of the Package-related measures, due to critical economic situation, red tape issues, difficu…
Land consolidation policies in sicily and their effects on its farmland
The paper deals with the legislative interventions in the field of land consolidation and their effects in improving the Sicilian land property structure. After a preliminary analysis of the legislative framework at national and regional level, a study on the structural evolution of the farming system in Italy and Sicily during the 1961-2010 period was carried out. In order to appreciate the actual impact and the relative efficacy of such interventions, data concerning the actions for land reorganization provided for by the Measure 4.11 contained in the 2000-2006 ROP for Sicily were analysed. On the basis of the data provided by the Regional Board for Agricultural and Food Resources, it has…