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Non-traditional Alternative Enterprises: Opportunities for Small Farmers
Safdar
Muhammad, Fisseha Tegegne, Enefiok Ekanem, and Surendra Singh
Institute of
Agricultural and Environmental Research
Seminar Series
Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
March 22, 2006
Small
farms represent a significant proportion of the total U.S farms, and
current trends in agriculture pose new challenges for their viability
and survival. To meet such challenges and competition, there is a need
for innovative approaches such as non-traditional and high value
alternative enterprises. Several studies have indicated that there is an
increase in demand for specialty products including goat meat, mushrooms
and organic food products. Such enterprises will provide small farms
opportunities to create niche markets. The main purpose of this study is
to introduce and promote alternative enterprises as an opportunity to
enhance economic and environmental sustainability and well being of
small farmers. The project will also identify priority areas for future
research, educational and outreach activities which will be more
effective and efficient in order to promote alternative enterprises
among small farmers. Once these priority areas are identified and future
programs will be designed based on these priorities. Such educational
and outreach activities will be more effective and efficient in order to
promote alternative enterprises among small farmers. Two focus group
meetings were conducted in Montgomery and Giles counties in Tennessee.
Preliminary results showed that cost-benefits analysis and marketing
were priority research areas, on-farm demonstrations and innovative
information sources; outreach priorities and regulations/requirements
and food safety were educational priorities indicated by small farmers.
More focus group meetings are planned for Tennessee and North Carolina
in near future.
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