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RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Synthesis paper on socioeconomic factors relating to agriculture and community development

Margaret Alston
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Department of Social Work, Monash University, Caulfield Campus, Vic. 3145, Australia. Email: margaret.alston@med.monash.edu.au

Crop and Pasture Science 63(3) 232-239 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP11173
Submitted: 6 July 2011  Accepted: 14 March 2012   Published: 28 May 2012

Journal Compilation © CSIRO Publishing 2012 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

Agriculture is highly dependent on the social sustainability inherent in rural communities. Yet too often we focus on the economic and environmental drivers relating to agricultural production, ignoring the social and community aspects that make rural livelihood not only possible but also rewarding and nurturing. In this paper I focus on climate change as yet another factor associated with rural restructuring that defrays community wellbeing. I argue that attention to social factors and a stronger role for government in assisting communities will enable greater adaptation and enhance resilience in what are essentially very uncertain times.


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