The farmer as a main factor of structural change in rural area’s: examination of slovenian farmers’ characteristics, perceived opportunities and threats and strategies as part of rural development in Slovenia

Agriculture in Slovenia is characterized by less-favourable natural and structural conditions. The degree of competitiveness of the whole agro-food sector will eventually decide whether farmers and industry will be able to compete on the EU market. Slovenian agriculture at the moment still lacks competitiveness Farmers that want to stay into business will have to further develop their farm. For farm development, besides craftsmanship and management skills increasingly entrepreneurial competencies are needed. To get insight into the entrepreneurial characteristics of Slovenian dairy farmers by investigating the opportunities and threats as perceived by farmers (external factors) to establish a future in rural Slovenia in the relation to internal factors (farmers’ and farm characteristics) and future strategy of the farmer.