Management Approaches of Agricultural Enterprises in Mountainous Disadvantaged Areas: The Case of Agrafa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15844867Keywords:
agribusiness, management, rural areas, sustainable development, rural managementAbstract
The management of agricultural enterprises in mountainous disadvantaged areas is a particularly complex and multidimensional issue, which is inextricably linked to production conditions, geomorphology, social dynamics and the institutional framework. This study examines the operating framework of agricultural enterprises in Agrafa, an area that is one of the most isolated and disadvantaged areas of the European Union. The Agrafa area is considered as mountainous and inaccessible, with an aging population and a shrinking economy, and that area is the study area of the present research paper. The methodology applied in the present study, is based on focus groups, involving farmers and agribusinesses located in the area. Through the analysis of institutional, social, economic and environmental parameters, it is crystal clear that there is a need for a holistic approach regarding the management model applied. A management model that should also integrate innovation, cooperation and the exploitation of the region's unique characteristics. Can businesses, whose operating environment is not favorable, leverage the unique characteristics of their region and turn them into a competitive advantage, ensuring their sustainability?
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Copyright (c) 2025 Apostolos Goulas, Ilias Tsotsas, Sofia Gkarane, Zacharias Papanikolaou
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