Multifunctional agriculture as an integral part of rural development: Spatial concentration and distribution in Czechia

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of the article is to present a spatial and temporal assessment of selected broadening and deepening activities associated with multifunctional agriculture in post-socialist Czechia. Although a number of studies of multifunctionality have been published, geographical assessment of multifunctional activities has been quite limited. The authors used quantitative research methods based on different data sources (Farm Structure Survey data and individual databases) to capture the dynamic and spatial distribution of selected multifunctional activities, specifically organic farming, agricultural anaerobic digestion plants, agritourism, and eco-agritourism. The analysis focused on two geographical attributes that influence the farming sector: conditions of an area for agriculture, and the importance of rural space. The results show that the role of multifunctional agriculture was strengthened as an integrating element of rural development in the period 2003–2013. Spatially differentiated growth of a number of farms that were developing broadening and deepening activities was particularly localized in mountainous areas. The authors conclude that multifunctional agriculture plays an integrating role in rural development in such regions because conditions for agriculture are a more crucial geographical attribute in its localization than the importance of rural space.

EDITORS:

• Kerstin Potthoff, Catriona Turner

KEYWORDS:

• Czechia
• multifunctional agriculture
• rural development
• spatial concentration

Acknowledgements

The work on this article was supported by the Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University, in Brno, through the university’s Internal Grant Agency (IGA), Grant 2016/14.

Notes

1 The terms ‘organic agriculture’ and ‘organic farming’ are used interchangeably in this article.