Investigating factors affecting competitiveness and intentions of farmers towards the cultivation of organic table olives in Greece

Abstract

Organic agricultural production has experienced significant increase in demand by consumers and an overwhelming level of support by governments and organizations aiming at supporting more environmentally sustainable agriculture. Table olives represent a delicacy in many countries with a strong production concentration in countries around the Mediterranean basin. The further development of organic production systems in table olives represents a significant opportunity for farmers and their ability to capture specific segments on the market and a continuously increasing demand and willingness to pay premium prices. This study focuses on the evaluation of the current conditions and characteristics of Greek farms that produce organic table olives. The analysis focuses on aspects such as farm size, production characteristics, challenges faced during setup or transition to organic systems and ongoing ones and certification strategies. The quantitative research method is utilized in this study for investigating the views of the farmers on those specific subjects. Descriptive and cross tabulation analyses are used to test hypotheses and meet the objectives of the study. The findings suggest that farm size and focus on different systems of production within the farm have a significant influence on overall productivity. Additionally, challenges relating to market access and acquisition of subsidies and support by government and EU funds are shown to be most popular amongst the sample. The results indicate that the ability to overcome those challenges is directly linked with the level of investments that farmers intend to commit in the future.