<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Multifunctionality of rural areas in Europe has become an important aspect of rural development in the last years. An important instrument to ameliorate the multifunctionality is diversification of farm income. As various forms of farm income diversification have been developed throughout Europe, the paper will survey the effectiveness of undertaken measures. First the issue of farm diversification will be argued theoretically. Then case studies from Saarland, Germany, and from Slovenia will analyse the importance of diversification for rural areas. A comparison of the two regions will reveal the chances and risks of diversification in a comparable new and old EU member state.</p></abstract>

Multifunctionality of rural areas in Europe has become an important aspect of rural development in the last years. An important instrument to ameliorate the multifunctionality is diversification of farm income. As various forms of farm income diversification have been developed throughout Europe, the paper will survey the effectiveness of undertaken measures. First the issue of farm diversification will be argued theoretically. Then case studies from Saarland, Germany, and from Slovenia will analyse the importance of diversification for rural areas. A comparison of the two regions will reveal the chances and risks of diversification in a comparable new and old EU member state.

IS DIVERSIFICATION OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS STILL AN OPTION FOR INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT? EVIDENCE FROM SLOVENIA AND SAARLAND, GERMANY

Geography and Spatial Planning Research Centre, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Department of Geography, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Quaestiones Geographicae

Multifunctionality of rural areas in Europe has become an important aspect of rural development in the last years. An important instrument to ameliorate the...

IS DIVERSIFICATION OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS STILL AN OPTION FOR INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT? EVIDENCE FROM SLOVENIA AND SAARLAND, GERMANY

Published Online: Dec 31, 2013

Page range: 39 - 48

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2013-0032

This content is open access.