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The Impact of ‘Age-Class’ on Becoming a Young Farmer in an Industrialised Agricultural Sector: Insights from Nova Scotia, Canada

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Generationing Development

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies on Children and Development ((PSCD))

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Abstract

An exodus of young people from rural areas and agrarian futures can be observed globally. Yet, despite significant obstacles, some young people still aspire to become farmers. This chapter proposes the concept of ‘age-class’—the intersection of age and socioeconomic position—to analyse the limitations and differential impacts of policies and support structures aimed at helping young people start farming futures. The analytical discussion is illustrated and expanded via a case study of the eastern Canadian province of Nova Scotia. This case highlights the importance of collective agency demonstrated by the province’s young farmer community via the formation of organisations, in reaction to the absence of government policies that support all groups of (aspiring) young farmers regardless of their background.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam, Kortenaerkade 12, The Hague, 2518 AX, Netherlands

    Elyse N. Mills

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  1. Elyse N. Mills
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Roy Huijsmans

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Mills, E.N. (2016). The Impact of ‘Age-Class’ on Becoming a Young Farmer in an Industrialised Agricultural Sector: Insights from Nova Scotia, Canada. In: Huijsmans, R. (eds) Generationing Development. Palgrave Studies on Children and Development. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-55623-3_4

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