Lagerkvist, Carl-Johan
- Institutionen för ekonomi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
Sammanfattning
Past studies of the use of soil fertility management strategies by farmers usually model input use decisions based on the neoclassical utility/profit maximization principle in which farmers use soil fertility management inputs primarily to increase revenues and profits. However, there is, to date, no study that explains exactly how this decision-making process occurs and the role which personal values play in driving the choice of soil fertility management inputs. This article systematically maps the relationship between choice of soil fertility management strategy (attributes), its outcomes (consequences) and the personal values that motivate the choice. It specifically uses the means-end chain approach to construct hierarchical value maps that relate the attributes to consequences, and ultimately to the personal values. The study finds that the use of soil fertility management strategies by peri-urban fresh vegetable growers is driven by five personal values, namely happiness, comfortable life, independence, good/healthy life and achievement of life goals. It also finds that while farmers seek to increase profit (hence incomes), profit maximization is not the end driver of the use of soil fertility management inputs. It concludes that a lot more goes into farmers’ decision-making process relating to the use of soil fertility management practices than can be explained by the neoclassical profit/utility maximization principle. The study discusses the policy implications of these findings.
Nyckelord
means-end chain approach; peri-urban vegetable farmers; personal values; manure and fertilizer use
Publicerad i
International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
2014, volym: 12, nummer: 2, sidor: 183-199
SLU författare
Globala målen (SDG)
SDG11 Hållbara städer och samhällen
UKÄ forskningsämne
Markvetenskap
Företagsekonomi
Jordbruksvetenskap
Publikationens identifierare
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2013.816458
Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/53237