Brussels, 20/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - Although the number of people working in agriculture is steadily declining, the proportion of young people (under-35s) remained around 20% between 1980 and 1997, according to a survey by Eurostat showing that the proportion of young people in agriculture is lowest in the southern Member States. Young people were outnumbered threefold by their seniors as holders of farms. Eurostat also reports that in 1997 young people accounted for 21% of the total workforce or 3 million people. Six out of ten young people who were holders worked part-time, and nine out of ten spouses and other family members worked part-time. Family workers were very much in the majority among both young people and their rest of the population in 1997, with farms almost always passed on in the direct line. Between 1980 and 1997, the proportion of workers aged over 55 increased from 32% to 36% of the total agricultural workforce.
Eurostat reveals that between 1990 and 1997, more than 260,000 young farmers received EU aid, of a total yearly average of EUR 2.7 billion. More than 90% of the funding was connected with setting up. 56.6% of the aid was paid to French farmers, 12.5% to Spanish farmers, 7.3% to Belgians, 7% to Germans, 5% to Portuguese, 4.4% to Greeks and 2.4% to Italians.
In a recent letter addressed to Eurostat Director General Yves Franchet, the President of CEJA (European Council of Young Farmers), Hans-Benno Wichert, regrets that this study does not take into account the statistics gathered over the last five years (during which European agriculture has suffered various health safety crises), which would make it possible to analyse to what extent such crises have an influence on the establishment of young farmers. Mr Wichert said he did not understand why this study did not use the figures published last year by Eurostat on the ageing situation in EU farming (more farmers aged 55 and over), as well as the 2000 working document on the future of young farmers, drafted by the European Parliament, Directorate General of Research. Furthermore, the statistics on the beneficiaries of Community funds are said to be lacking in precision.