Experiences of young farmers working on family-run farms in Bjelovar-Bilogora and Požega-Slavonia Counties

Cilj ovoga istraživanja je empirijski i teorijski utvrditi iskustvo života na selu i rada u poljoprivredi mladih obiteljskih poljoprivrednih gospodarstvenika koji žive u selima Bjelovarsko-bilogorske i Požeško-slavonske županije u svrhu utvrđivanja prednosti, nedostataka i prepreka bavljenja poljoprivrednom djelatnošću i života na selu. Kvalitativnom metodom polustrukturiranog intervjua s deset mladih poljoprivrednika iz sela Bjelovarsko-bilogorske i Požeško-slavonske županije ostvarili su se cilj i svrha istraživanja. Istraživanjem se utvrdilo da su pozitivne strane života na selu vlasništvo nad kućom, zemljom i dvorištem, svjež zrak, priroda, tišina, mir, zdrav život i sloboda, dok se kao negativna strana ističe loša infrastrukturna opremljenost. Pozitivne strane bavljenja poljoprivredom su rad za sebe, rad „od kuće“, sigurnost posla, samostalno određivanje radnog vremena, svestranost zanimanja, mogućnost razvoja i napretka te zdrava okolina, dok su negativne nepopularnost tog zanimanja, ovisnost o vremenskim uvjetima, velik opseg posla, nestabilnost cijena i s tim povezana nesigurnost i nedostatak vremena. Kao najveće prepreke bavljenja poljoprivredom, s kojima se mladi poljoprivrednici u ovom istraživanju suočavaju, isticale su se administrativne prepreke, nedostatak zemljišta, korupcija i pogodovanje „moćnijima“.The aim of this research is to empirically and theoretically determine the experience of rural life and work in agriculture of young family farmers living in the villages of Bjelovar-Bilogora and Požega-Slavonia counties in order to determine the advantages, disadvantages and obstacles of farming and living in the countryside. The goal and purpose of the research were achieved by a qualitative method of semi-structured interview with ten young farmers from the villages of Bjelovar-Bilogora and Požega-Slavonia counties. The research found that the positive aspects of life in the countryside are ownership of the house, land and yard, fresh air, nature, silence, peace, healthy life and freedom, while the negative side is poor infrastructure. The positive aspects of agriculture are working for oneself, working “from home”, job security, self-determination of working hours, versatility of the profession, the possibility of development and progress and a healthy environment, while the negative are unpopularity of this occupation, weather dependence, large scope of work, price instability and the associated insecurity and lack of time. The biggest obstacles to agriculture, which young farmers face with, were administrative obstacles, lack of land, corruption and favoring the “more powerful”