engleski

Possibilites of co-operative work on family farms

Development of cooperative organizations in family farming is one of the most important assumptions for successful transition of the Croatian agriculture and for increase of its competitiveness. Basic hypothesis of this research, based on comprehensive thought and disposable similar research works, is that farmers are different according to their connection between particular socio-psychological, demographic and economic characteristics of farmers (farms) and their readiness for co-operation. Hence, goal of the research is to determine if the farmers are significantly different regarding to their willingness for co-operation, and on what features we can predict their behavior and attitudes. Data are gathered through the survey on international sample of 200 farmers in May-June period of 1998 in rural area around Zagreb. In data analysis usual tests have been used: (a) for nominal or ordinal scales we were using cross tabulation and (b) for metric scales we were using one-way ANOVA. Based on declamatory expressed willingness for co-operation we've got four groups of surveyed farmers according to their willingness to join co-operative organizations: „Very willing“, „Willing“, „Less willing“ and „Not willing“. These groups are significantly different in relation to farmers' experience in co-operation: more experienced farmers are more willing to join new co-operation. Regarding to innovativeness and enterprising, significant difference exists only between groups „Very willing“ and „Not willing“ (p<5%). These two groups are also significantly different regarding to education level, where „Very willing“ farmers have higher education level. There is no significant difference regarding to psychological determinants: trust, inclination to domination and sociability. Regarding to other tested variables no statistically significant difference has been found. Results of this research show that there is a connection between particular characteristics of farmers and their willingness („readiness“) for co-operative work. These results will be used for design of research hypothesis that will be tested on sample from total population of farmers in Croatia.

co-operation ; connection ; family farm ; ANOVA ; Chi-square

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