FARMING WITH OTHER GAINFUL ACTIVITIES IN THE NETHERLANDS

In the Netherlands farming with other gainful activities has not attra cted much attention, because it did not agree with the image of modern agriculture. Over-production, constraints on farm incomes and environ mental problems encouraged an interest in alternatives sources of farm income in the 1980s. Despite the lack of good quality statistical sou rces, it is possible to estimate the number of pluriactive farm househ olds at about 30 per cent. This phenomenon is becoming more important because women increasingly have off-farm jobs and small farmers need a dditional income to survive. Some results from a regional study (Land van Maas en Waal) show that members of farm households have a diversit y of motives for off-farm activities. Apart from economic and financia l reasons, many households are primarily motivated by social and cultu ral reasons. Pluriactivity is therefore not only an income strategy fo r small farmers. It is also a means to enlarge the narrow horizon of t he farming business.