1. Definition
Name
|
FARMER'S
AGE
|
Brief
definition
|
Distribution
of farmers in age groups
|
Unit of measure
|
% of farmers in each
age group (<35, 35-55, >55)
|
2.
Position within the logical framework DPSIR
Type
of Indicator
|
Driving
force
|
3.
Target and political pertinence
Objective
|
Contribution
to the definition and mapping of ESAs and assessing
the desertification risk of an area
|
Importance
with respect to desertification
|
Farmer's
age becomes an important indicator since in dry farming
areas there is no replacement of the retired farmers
by their children, so land is abandoned or cultivated
in a different way (which probably finally leads to
abandonment). Abandoned lands suffer degradation processes
quickly after being abandoned
|
International
Conventions and agreements
|
The
UNCCD emphasizes that combating desertification must
be tackled within the general framework of actions
to promote sustainable development.
|
Secondary objectives
of the indicator
|
This indicator adds
knowledge about the social structure of the rural
areas. This information is important when it comes
to developing specific programs of information, education
or restoration.
|
4.
Methodological description and basic definitions
Definitions
and basic concepts
|
Farmer's
age can be represented in intervals. Normally young
farmers are considered to be those under 35 years.
Farmers over 55 have a bigger tendency to stop their
activities because they retire.
|
Benchmarks
Indication of the values/ranges of value
|
There
is no range of value defined, but a bigger percentage
of farmers in the over 55 group represents a bigger
risk of land abandonment
|
Methods
of measurement
|
Statistics,
or consultation with the cooperatives (recommended
because their data are updated more often than public
statistics)
|
Limits
of the indicator
|
Sometimes
the holder of the farm is not really the person who
manages it (some retired farmers still work on the
farm while the holder is another family member)
|
Linkages
with other indicators
|
Farm
ownership, Family size,
Land abandoned
|
5.
Evaluation of data needs and availability
Data
required to calculate the indicator
|
Official
statistics; Cooperative reports
|
Data
sources
|
Necessary
data are usually available and accessible and the
cost/benefit ratio is reasonable.
|
Availability of data
from national and international sources
|
Data can be obtained
from various regional, national or international institutions
involved in collecting and elaborating agricultural
statistics and the cooperatives
|
6.
Institutions that have participated in developing the indicator
Main
institutions responsible
|
Universidad
de Murcia, Spain
|
Other
contributing organizations
|
Universities
of Lisbon, Agricultural University of Athens, Basilicata,
Amsterdam, Leeds
|
7.
Additional information
Bibliography
|
|
Other
references
|
|
Contacts Name and address
|
University of Murcia
F. López-Bermúdez
email: lopber@um.es,
jorgegg@um.es
|
|