Ludivine Marcon – OT Pays Diois

FS 3.236

Agricultural and non-agricultural jobs in rural mountain communities

New session based on ...

FS 3.224: Agricultural and non-agricultural jobs in rural communities and attractiveness of mountain areas
FS 3.198: Working Conditions of Seasonal Workers on Alpine and Mountain Farms
FS 3.157: Agritourism in Mountain Areas in the Era of Overtourism

Details

Full Title
FS 3.236: Agricultural and non-agricultural jobs in rural communities and attractiveness of mountain areas
Scheduled
TBA
Location
TBA
Convener
Priscila Malanski
Co-Conveners
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Assigned to Synthesis Workshop
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Thematic Focus
Agriculture, Sustainable Development, Tourism
Keywords
Work, Tourism, Seasonal workers, Agriculture

Description

Working and living in the mountain areas, including alpine summer farms, can be a challenge, taking into account the natural constraints: steep slopes limit the development of highly productive agriculture compared to the lowlands and make it difficult to link rural communities in mountain areas with adjacent urban centers (e.g. roads). Despite these difficulties, farming and communities in mountain areas remain dynamic and face fast transformations. Agriculture and livestock farming are still significant economic activities that provide jobs. Moreover, alpine summer farming has not only important economic but also ecological (e.g. biodiversity) or cultural functions. However, low wages, high workloads or seasonality are some of the reasons for people to leave the jobs and/or the region as such, especially younger people. The development of tourism, alternative energy production, and other emerging economic sectors in mountain areas can increase the area’s attractiveness by creating new opportunities and jobs for people living in rural communities. We invite proposals addressing (but not limited to) the following topics:

Integrating agricultural and non-agricultural activities: opportunities and challenges
Challenges and solutions for seasonal workers on alpine summer farms
Impact of tourism development, renewable energy, and other emerging sectors on mountain communities.
Attracting and retaining people to work on mountain farms
Resources to promote the diversification of agricultural and non-agricultural jobs in rural communities (logistics, labor, infrastructure, energy, knowledge, etc.)

Interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged.

Submitted Abstracts

ID: 3.5516

Volunteer Agritourism in Mountainous Areas: A Netnographic Analysis of WWOOF Host Experiences and Tourist Interactions in Türkiye

Merve Altundal Öncü

Abstract/Description

Volunteer tourism is an alternative form of tourism that enables individuals to contribute to local communities while supporting sustainable development and fostering cross-cultural interactions. In Türkiye, the WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) platform facilitates opportunities for volunteers to engage with local mountain communities, learn sustainable agricultural practices, and experience life in close connection with nature. This study aims to explore the mutual experiences, expectations, and challenges of WWOOF hosts and volunteers situated in mountainous areas. Using a netnographic approach, the study analyzes comments about hosts, evaluations of volunteer experiences, and profiles of farms listed on the platform. Findings reveal that volunteers are primarily motivated by desires for immersion in nature, cultural exchange, and learning sustainable farming skills, while hosts accept volunteers to build social relationships, receive support in farm work, and promote their local culture. Farms located in mountainous are shown to have significant potential for volunteer agritourism as a form of ecotourism. Research questions: What motivates volunteers to choose WWOOF-listed farms in Turkish mountainous areas? What experiences emerge from the interactions between volunteers and hosts in these areas? How does volunteer agritourism contribute to ecotourism and sustainable development goals in mountainous regions? This study is unique in its focus on the intersection of volunteer tourism and agritourism within the context of Türkiye’s mountainous regions, offering insights into how these practices intersect with sustainable development and cultural exchange. By applying a netnographic methodology, it highlights the underexplored online interactions and evaluations that shape the experiences of both hosts and volunteers. The results emphasize the potential for volunteer agritourism to foster sustainable livelihoods in environmentally sensitive mountain areas.

ID: 3.9158

Is income enough to understand farm diversification strategies? Unraveling farmers’ labor engagement

Priscila Malanski
Kister, Jutta; Ghilardi, Matias; Stoica, Valentina

Abstract/Description

Farm diversification has been studied as a way to buffer structural changes and maximize income generation, including in mountain areas. Two key dimensions are typically examined: 1) the location of activities (on-farm or off-farm); 2) the nature of activities (agricultural or non-agricultural). These approaches often focus on activities as sources of income generation, rather than as occupations requiring regular labor and time. In this sense, we define farm diversification as an activity requiring a regular labor and time engagement of farmers, regardless of income. We hypothesize that income-centered approaches hide the diversity of farm diversification strategies. However, putting farmers’ labor allocation in the center of analysis could better represent the plurality of farm diversification. Our aim is to qualify the different strategies of farm diversification. Data collection was based on 15 semi-structured interviews with farmers and non-farmers involved in inclusive sustainable development initiatives in highlands. These interviews were part of the transdisciplinary research project Highlands 3.0, in collaboration with Cape Verde University, conducted in November 2024. Since our focus is on farm diversification, we selected nine interviews with farmers to perform a case-by-case analysis. The framework for analysis was developed by comparing these cases based on: 1) the location of activities (on or off-farm); 2) the type of activities (agricultural production, processing, marketing, non-agricultural activities). Our results show five types of farm activity diversification: 1) agricultural (mixed crop-livestock farm); 2) structural (food processing); 3) environmental (preservation of biodiversity); 4) socio-cultural (traditional knowledge); 5) economic (off-farm job). They cover activities that are not exclusively related to income generation (off-farm employment, entrepreneurship, direct sales), as environmental and social diversification (volunteer engagement in groups for environmental preservation, traditional knowledge preservation, respectively). The types of farm diversification can be combined. The most common one is the combination of agricultural diversification and structural diversification (farmers produce crops and livestock and market them through direct selling). We suggest that a labor centered-approach offers a broader understanding of farm diversification strategies and provides insights to support farm and local development.

ID: 3.9162

Combining farming and service activities: a new research avenue for understanding work in farming systems?

Priscila Malanski
Hostiou, Nathalie

Abstract/Description

The agricultural model characterized by the high specialization of farming systems is facing a multidimensional crisis (societal, environmental, economic). Additionally, the agricultural sector is challenged by increasing uncertainties related to climate change, ageing of rural population, and lack of attractivity to easily renew the agricultural workforce. This situation is particularly severe in mountainous areas, where the steep slopes limit the potential for highly productive agriculture, compared to flatter regions, and where low population density further complicates agricultural activities. Diversification of on-farm activities has emerged as a key strategy to maintain farm viability. Diversification is defined as activities beyond food production developed at farm level that generate income. New forms of farms providing services on-farm are emerging: they combine food production with non-agricultural service activities, such as leisure, culture, tourism, education, and energy production. In 2020, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, a mountainous area in France, reported that 7% of farms were engaged in service activities on-farm, which is comparable to the national level at 7.5%. The development of these service activities can be a major strategy for transitioning to sustainable farming systems (more livable and viable for workers, and socially acceptable by society). The combination of farming and service activities within the farming system can take different forms depending on the objectives assigned to the agricultural or livestock production in relation to the service activity, the adaptation of farming practices, and the organization of work between the two activities. However, the association between farming and service activities are rarely considered in terms of the changes they induce on the farm. Service activities interfere with farming, generating tensions over the use of productive resources (e.g., feeding the herds, managing land, choosing equipment, etc.) and work-related tensions (e.g., workload, skill, on-call duties, mental load, etc.). These tensions on productive resources and labor could weaken the farming system and raise questions about the resilience and viability of these new forms of diversified farms. Therefore, acquiring the necessary knowledge and methods to bridge this gap is crucial for effectively supporting these emerging diversified farming systems.

ID: 3.10518

Navigating Livelihoods in High Altitude Town: The Case of Seasonal Migrants in Leh, Ladakh Union Territory, India

Bhawna Bali
Jamir, Chubbamenla

Abstract/Description

Leh town in Ladakh Union Territory in the western section of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) has witnessed a large-scale infrastructure development. Much of this is owing to mass influx of tourists over the last decade attributed to its pristine environment, landscape and spiritual significance as an important centre of Tibetan Buddhism. Given the unique but harsh climatic conditions of high altitude cold desert, the region is open to economic activity in a highly restricted timeline of about 6-7 months in a year. Its low population base has ensured an overwhelming dependence on extra-territorial migrant labour most of which is contracted for a season. This paper aims to explore the livelihood opportunities and challenges among the seasonal migrants in Leh town based on an analysis of primary data generated from 112 migrants drawn from various occupational categories such as housekeepers, waiters, drivers, cooks, hotel/ restaurant managers, painters, carpenters, construction workers, saloon workers, tailors, electricians, mechanics, etc. An overwhelming majority of migrant workers were males (81%), mostly young adults of 25-40 years, and natives of relatively less developed States like Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh. Factors such as low daily wages, unemployment and high competition, hot weather conditions in home States were important factors determining their decision to seek seasonal employment in Leh. Attractive compensation packages (including a significant component of savings), diverse job opportunities and polite behaviour of the locals more than offset the remote location of the region, its harsh weather conditions and associated health challenges. For a few, working in Leh was aspirational – pull of rugged natural beauty.

ID: 3.11839

Seasonal labor on Swiss Alpine Farms: Conditions for a Craft Considered Cultural Heritage

Alexander Röösli

Abstract/Description

The Swiss Alpine Season became an immaterial UNESCO cultural heritage in December 2023. The value of the specific traditions, rituals and practices associated with the alpine season in Switzerland is thus widely recognized. At the same time, the alpine farms are under pressure to adapt to external challenges such as climate change or water scarcity. Skilled workers are needed to preserve the cultural heritage and to cope with the increasing pressures of climate change. These seasonal workers need in-depth knowledge and a wide range of skills to ensure the survival of the Swiss Alpine Season. However, such workers are in short supply and rarely stay in the alpine economy for long periods of time. We therefore launched a research project to investigate the reasons why seasonal workers do not return to alpine farms, or do so only in the short term. Our study shows that the reasons are manyfold: Conflicts with employers and colleagues or hard and long working hours combined with low wages play a role. However, one of the main reasons why seasonal workers do not return to alpine farms is that they often experience difficulties with the long-term integration of their alpine farm employment into their general life situation. Thus, due to inadequate working and living conditions on the farms as well as a lack of possibilities to combine the “alpine farm life” with the “other life”, there is a shortage of skilled labor on Swiss alpine farms. Discussions are currently taking place with various stakeholders on how to tackle these difficulties.

ID: 3.12648

Title: The Contribution of the New Population to the Resilience of Mountain Communities

Alexandros Siampanopoulos
Goussios, Dimitris

Abstract/Description

This research combines the effects of the abandonment of natural resources and their management with the dynamics of the settlement of new populations in rural communities, particularly in mountainous areas. It starts with the hypothesis that the abandonment of agricultural land, which intensifies the risks posed by climate change and natural disasters, jeopardizes the resilience and future of these communities. This leads to the creation of a positive environment for the reception of new populations. Indeed, these communities face the need to manage agricultural land use while also dealing with the abundance of inactive but potentially exploitable resources. This need is further reinforced by climate change, combined with the increasing frequency of natural disasters, making the reassessment of land-use relationships imperative. This combination of managing and utilizing natural and territorial resources positions the settlement of new populations as an acceptable solution for the entire dispersed society of mountain communities. This goal appears to be feasible and multifaceted because it activates resources based on the multifunctionality of the space and the diversification of activities. Local reception strategies arise, often preceding public policies through the mobilization of informal institutional capital (family, collectives, expatriates, etc.), which supports forms of cooperation and coordination to exploit agricultural resources. The study demonstrates the compatibility between informal local institutions and public policies, which often support such bottom-up initiatives in retrospect. This combination of informal and formal institutions creates both flexibility in implementation and the feasibility and sustainability of the action plan, while simultaneously strengthening territorial cohesion. This process leads to the need for spatial reorganization capable of responding to agro-ecological, social, economic, and institutional transitions, thereby building the new mountain community.

ID: 3.12846

Exploring the Cultural Dimensions of Agritourism: A Comparative Analysis of Tuscany, Tyrol, and South Tyrol

Nicola Miceli
Fischer, Christian; Streifeneder, Thomas

Abstract/Description

Agritourism is an increasingly popular strategy for rural development, yet its cultural and location-specific driving factors remain underexplored. This study examines the cultural dimensions of agritourism through three case studies, each representing distinct agricultural traditions: Tuscany (Italy), exemplifying the Latin/Mediterranean tradition; Tyrol (Austria), representing the Germanic tradition; and South Tyrol (Italy), where a unique fusion of Mediterranean and Germanic influences comes together. Using the cultures framework (Stephenson, 2023), this research analyses agritourism by examining three key cultural elements: motivators (the driving forces behind the growth of the local agritourism sector), materiality (physical items, features, and products) and activities (the offerings provided by local agritourism farms to visitors). The study also examines policy-related factors contributing to cultural stability and change. In particular, it investigates how culture shapes agritourism offerings and the activities that define the sector locally. To populate the framework for each case study, semi-structured interviews with experts and stakeholders will be supplemented by secondary data, including information from regional, national, and European databases, policy documents, and promotional materials. Using grounded theory and qualitative analysis software, the study explores how cultural backgrounds shape agritourism, assuming that specific cultural traditions yield significant regional differences. Specifically, interview transcripts and secondary data will be systematically coded using NVivo, and grounded theory methods will be applied to extract emerging themes and patterns, facilitating a comprehensive comparative evaluation of the cultural dimensions in each case study. The findings will provide insights into the relationship between agritourism practices and the wider cultural environment in which they occur, offering policymakers a nuanced understanding of how location-specific cultural factors affect agritourism models and their long-term sustainability.This study examines how cultural traditions shape agritourism in Tuscany, Tyrol, and South Tyrol using the cultures framework, expert interviews, and secondary data to analyse regional differences and sustainability impacts.

ID: 3.20095

How do agrarian transitions affect rural incomes? Insights from a mountainous borderland region in northern Vietnam and Laos

Joel Persson
Phomphakdy, Chanthavone; Smith-Hall, Carsten; Phan Quốc, Dũng

Abstract/Description

Agrarian transitions imply a shift from extensive, multifunctional landscapes towards increasingly intensive, simplified land uses driven by agricultural commercialisation. Although this often implies a change in local livelihoods from semi-subsistence farming, foraging, and livestock rearing activities towards commercial farming and non-farm activities, disentangling the effects on livelihoods can be challenging because of the various context-dependent geographic, political and socio-economic factors that influence how agrarian transitions manifest in local contexts. This paper presents an analytical framework that elucidates the cross-scale, spatiotemporal, and multidimensional processes of agrarian transitions and their effects on local livelihoods. It presents the results from a recent empirical study in a mountainous region bordering northern Laos and Vietnam that has undergone shifts in forest-tree-farm systems. The study targeted four spatially proximate sites and employed a comparative mixed-methods case study that combined remote sensing, interviews, focus group discussions, and a household survey. We compare agrarian changes and demonstrate the variegated rural income portfolios across each site, disaggregating subsistence and cash incomes. The findings reveal an enduring importance of subsistence-oriented incomes and site-specific features of agrarian transition dynamics. The Vietnamese sites are marked by high levels of farm intensification and land tenure formalisation, while income benefits from agricultural commercialisation, especially for cash crops, fruit, and livestock, are highly unevenly distributed. In contrast, the Lao sites exhibit shifting cultivation systems with varying rotation lengths and mixed tenure systems. Households have comparable incomes to those in Vietnam and rely on an extensive, low-input farming system that helps maintain low costs for farming and livestock rearing, supplemented by income from collecting products from forests and other non-cultivated areas. The analytical framework offers a heuristic to analysing livelihood change across local contexts as agrarian transitions unfold, while the results provide evidence for the diverse and unequal income trajectories. Improved characterisation of the site-specific mechanisms shaping rural livelihoods can help pinpoint leverage points for improving sustainable livelihoods in contexts experiencing dynamic landscape change.

FS 3.235: Mountain Precipitation and Hydroclimate in a Changing Climate: Processes, Feedbacks, and Implications

FS 3.237: Open Poster Session

#IMC: September 14 - 18 2025

FS 3.236

Agricultural and non-agricultural jobs in rural mountain communities

New session based on ...

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