This study tests the hypothesis that intensity of dairy farming and degree of market participation increase with proximity to end-markets and with proximity to local service centers. Findings prove the hypothesis for proximity to local service center – causing better market quality for inputs and outputs, smaller farms with less available labor, use of more purchased feeds and services, higher stocking rates, higher yields and higher margins per hectare. Findings only partly prove the hypothesis for proximity to end-markets, mainly due to unexpected land scarcity in the remotest locations. Implication of this study is that the common typology of dairy farms in ‘(peri-) urban’ and ‘rural’ farms needs adjustment by outlining local market access and connectivity.
The content of this presentation is based on a paper published in Agricultural Systems, see https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X20307526 or https://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S0308521X20307526.