The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) represents the set of policies that the European Economic Community first and the European Union, after, have adopted in the agricultural sector conceiving it as a strategic field to achieve an equal and stable development in the Member States. This sector's peculiarities caused agriculture to become the most integrated productive sector at the European level, the one in which the EU action supersedes the Member States' activity more intensively and more frequently. In this context, Italy has received large benefits from the CAP, since this has been an important instrument both to cooperate with other national states and to develop its territories, especially in the southern part of the country. The CAP is now based on two pillars: the first one encompasses the direct payments regime and the market measures, while the second one includes the rural development support measures. Direct payments guarantee the continuity of agriculture in Europe, assuring some income stability to farmers and safeguarding companies from prices fluctuations. These subsidies are conditional on the respect of some environment, food security, phitosanitary requirements and animals’ health norms. Italy is the EU member with he highest number of farmers, but it is the fourth one with respect to the amount of direct payment received. The market measures are aimed at avoiding that economic, climatic or sanitary crisis interrupt agricultural production and at guaranteeing the recognition of the correct added value to farmers by the market. Finally, the rural development policy is oriented toward maintaining the vitality of the countrysides through investments, modernisation and activities-support programmes in rural are... ... middle of paper ... ...ctiv.com/cap/cap-reform-2014-2020-linksdossier-508393 (visited on 20 November 2013) European Commission, La politica agricola coumune continua...(2012), http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/50-years-of-cap/files/history/history_book_lr_it.pdf (visited on 20 November 2013) Istituto Nazionale di Economia Agraria, La nuova PAC post 2013: i temi e gli interessi dell’Italia (2013), http://www.inea.it/documents/10179/29596/audizione%20inea%20-%20commissione%20agricoltura%20camera%20-%209%20ottobre%202013.pdf (visited on 20 November 2013) Ministero dell politiche agricole alimentari e forestali, http://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/287 (visited on 20 November 2013) Ministero dell politiche agricole alimentari e forestali, http://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/6497 (visited on 20 November 2013)
Ginsborg P (1990). ‘A History of Contemporary Italy: Society and Politics: 1943-1980’ Published by Penguin; Reprint edition (27 Sep 1990).
At the same time, the local agricultural economy was experiencing a deep economic depression due to the severe droughs that had occured throughout the past decade. The loss of crops cut out the average farmers'/planters' main food source as well a...
this notion of stable supply and demand affected prices of farm commodities. “Low prices on
During World War I, England’s agricultural economy was badly damaged. This inconvenience for the English was a blessing to American farmers. Since the invention of the combine, and various other mechanical harvesting machines, American farmers could increase their crop yield. In turn they could export the extra crops to England for more money. Once England got back on it’s feet, American farmers could not find any exports for their crops. As they continued to produce more than the American people could consume, the prices of agricultural goods dramatically dropped. By the 1930’s many farmers were in serious need of help, with heavy farm loans and mortgages hanging over their head’s. Nothing had been done to help the farmer’s during The Hoover Administration. So in 1933 as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal, the Secretary of Agriculture, Henry Wallace devised a plan to limit production and increase prices. Which came to be known as the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933, also known as the AAA. The AAA was established on May 12, 1933 it was the New Deal idea to assist farmers during the Great Depression. It was the first widespread effort to raise and stabilize farm prices and income. The law created and authorized the Agricultural Adjustment Administration to: Enter into voluntary agreements to pay farmers to reduce production of basic commodities ( cotton, wheat, corn, rice, tobacco, hogs, milk, etc..), to make advanced payments to farmers who stored crops on the farm, create marketing agreements between farmers and middlemen, and to levy processing taxes to pay for production adjustments and market development. Basically the AAA paid farmers to destroy their crops and livestock in return for cash. In 1933 alone cotton farmers were paid $100 million to plow over their cotton crop. Six million piglets were slaughtered by the government after they bought them from farmers. The meat was canned and given to people without jobs. In order for this new bill to work there needed to be money to pay the farmers, this money came from the companies that bought farm products in the form of taxes. While it seemed like a good idea to pay farmers to cut back on crops to lowering the surplus and boost the economy, The Supreme Court found the Act unconstitutional in 1936.
...at small farms constitute 90 percent of the world’s farms and employment of 1.3 billion people. This dominates agriculture in developing countries because two-thirds of the 3 billion rural people in the world live off the income generated by farmers managing some 500 million small farms (Halberg & Müller, 2012, p.21). Additionally, there are benefits to land conservation for local communities that involves reduced environmental hazards, improvement of water quality from ground recharge, economic gains from agricultural production from exporting, and the natural settings that bring tourism generating the economy (McMahon & Urban, 2010 p.2). It is only through the awareness of this informational insight into the differences between community types and their transitions throughout time that the public can explore and discover economic incentives for rural communities.
The agreement stood as a symbol of European progression, because the former war enemies were able to come together to create a mutually beneficial compromise. However, the Common Agricultural Policy has not been without controversy; from the day it was signed to the present critics have pointed out flaws in the agreement. Many heavily industrial nations, like the United Kingdom, rally against the Common Agricultural Policy, because they believe it is not fair to have to pay more to other European countries than they in turn receive themselves from the policy (Annual). Nonetheless, the increasingly strong Franco-German relationship proved to be a positive sign for the future of Europe. French President and War leader Charles De Gaulle believed a strong European foundation could serve as a third pole between the Soviet Union and the United States. In 1959 in a speech in Strasbourg, De Gaulle said, “Yes, it is Europe, from the Atlantic to the Urals, it is the whole of Europe, that will decide the destiny of the world (De Gaulle).” Charles De Gaulle believed in the power of a united Europe and the pivotal role France could play in the world as a leader in this union of
The main focus of this paper will be on Italy’s population. Facts included will be the total population of Italy, along with population distribution, and population density. Topics such as the country’s linguistic, religion, and ethnic diversity will be touched upon as well. Lastly, the countries government, and their military will be explained. Let us begin with Italy’s overall population.
A social premium, usually 10%, is used to focus on the development and technical assistance that is needed on the farms. On the positive side of this requirement, the FLO claims that the social premium was worth $65 million in 2012, and it went to building community facilities like schools, hospitals and improving farm infrastructures (FLO 2013b). This seems promising, but there are several academics that have expressed concern that fair-trade faces a seriously large gap dividing the benefits depicted by fair-trade and the reality of the advantages achieved
Josling, Tim. “Key Issues in the World Trade Organization Negotiations on Agriculture.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics v.85, n3 (August 2003): 663-667
To really begin to understand this complex topic a person really needs to understand the basics of agricultural subsidizing. A subsidy is defined as a grant by a government to a private person or company to assist an enterprise deemed advantageous to the public (Mish, 2003). More specifically, in the agricultural industry the government provides financial assistance to producers in the farm industry in order to prevent decline in production. The government does this by providing financial assistance to farmers and by managing the cost and supply of certain commodities. There a few reasons for this. One reason is to provide assistance to family sized farm owners who have trouble competing with commercial farms. This is supposed to maintain an efficient market balance. Another reason is to control the prices of commodities and keep the global food prices low. There are two main ways that payments are made. The payments may be made directly based on historical cropping patterns on a fixed number of acres. Or they can also be made depending on current market prices. Farmer’s may be guaranteed...
Switzerland is one of the most prosperous countries in Europe. With a stable government, sound economy and highly skilled labor force and strong tourism, Switzerland is driving force in the world economy. However, in the coming years Switzerland will face three challenges that threaten their positive economic outlook, they are 1) agriculture protectionism,
...earch and extension, rural infrastructure, and market access for small farmers. Rural investments have been sorely neglected in recent decades, and now is the time to reverse this trend. Farmers in many developing countries are operating in an environment of inadequate infrastructure like roads, electricity, and communications; poor soils; lack of storage and processing capacity; and little or no access to agricultural technologies that could increase their profits and improve their livelihoods. Recent unrest over food prices in a number of countries may tempt policymakers to put the interests of urban consumers over those of rural people, including farmers, but this approach would be shortsighted and counterproductive. Given the scale of investment needed, aid donors should also expand development assistance to agriculture, rural services, and science and technology.
The backbone of a stable nation, socially and politically, is agriculture. Agriculture is the largest sector that provides a nation with food and employment. Agriculture is currently being affected by climate change and at the same time it is also a contributor to climate change. The drastic elevations in climate change started from the mid to late 20th century and they have been increasing since then (Boisvenue & Running 2006). Climate change is affecting agriculture by interfering with the efficiency of crop production. Agriculture is facing droughts, flooding, sea level elevations, natural disasters, and health hazards for employees. All of these exponents lead to crop failure that creates famines and food prices to rise. On the other side, agriculture is also contributing to climate change through their output of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprints. These are caused by the activities that agriculture engages with such as breeding of livestock, ploughing of fields, deforestation, and the use of pesticides and other agrochemicals. Climate change affects countries differently, mainly due to their ability to adapt and their geographical location. Canada and Russia benefit from the changes in climate while Sudan and Bangladesh are affected negatively, struggling to adapt. Agriculture and climate change are interrelated processes that exist mutually making it harder to reduce one without affecting the other.
(The Sustainability of Irish Agriculture, n.d.) Sustainability is very important on my home farm. Practices have been put in place that won’t cause harm to the environment. My home farm is a small, family enterprise and I feel that new approaches are needed in order to maintain the farms sustainability status. Non-renewable inputs that are harmful to the environment or to the health of farmers should be minimised. As well as this, farmers have knowledge and skills that could be put into use, therefore substituting human capital for costly external outputs. Sustainable agriculture outcomes can be positive for food productivity, reduced pesticide use and carbon balances. (Agricultural Sustainability: concepts, principles and evidence, 2007) In this essay, I will discuss the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture, identifying how they may relate to my home farm. I will then discuss whether or not present activities can change to more sustainable methods in the
Intensive agriculture has large manufacturing inputs, including the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, selective breeding, research new varieties and a high degree of mechanization. Output products used primarily commercial purposes, as goods sold on the market or export. The activities on the intensive agricultural production is an effort to find ways to source the highest financial income from grain, products made from grain or livestock .......