Title: The practices of small and medium-sized agricultural businesses affecting sustainability and food security

Authors: Evangelia Karasmanaki; Vasilios Mangioros; Eleftheria Fytopoulou; Georgios Tsantopoulos

Addresses: Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, Pantazidou 193, 68200, Nea Orestiada, Greece ' Region of Epirus, Directorate of Agricultural Economy and Veterinary, Department of Quality and Phytosanitary Control, Regional Unit of Ioannina, 1 Pirrou Sq, 45221, Ioannina, Greece ' Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54424 Thessaloniki, Greece ' Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, Pantazidou 193, 68200, Nea Orestiada, Greece

Abstract: Agriculture has been attracting severe criticism due to the negative impact of its practices on the environment while many voices have been advocating the need for adopting sustainable farming practices. If such fundamental changes are to be made, farmers are charged with a critical role since their actions have a profound effect on the environment. Therefore, it is fundamental to understand farmers' attitudes towards farming practices and especially of those farmers performing farming activities in protected areas. Hence, the present study aims to investigate crop and livestock farmers' attitudes towards sustainable agriculture in the protected area of Lake Pamvotis in Greece in order to draw conclusions on their behaviour. Overall, our results demonstrated that both crop and livestock farmers had positive attitudes and conformed to regulations protecting the environment from the adverse effects of agriculture, however, significant room for improvement was detected both in terms of sustainability and business development.

Keywords: farmer behaviour; farming practices; crop and livestock farmers' attitudes; factors affecting farmers' practices; agricultural sustainability; sustainable farming; protected areas; sustainable development; categorical regression; Ioannina basin.

DOI: 10.1504/JGBA.2020.110611

Journal for Global Business Advancement, 2020 Vol.13 No.2, pp.205 - 227

Received: 23 Apr 2020
Accepted: 23 Apr 2020
Published online: 26 Oct 2020 *

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