More and more farmers do not find any successor

Agriculture & fishery
Steeds meer landbouwers vinden geen opvolger

The number of agricultural holdings in Belgium where the holder is older than 50 and has no successor has increased by 7.5 % between 2013 and 2016.

Besides, contributing family workers work more and more part-time, and often have another job outside the company.

The number of farmers' spouses has particularly decreased: in 2013, 45 % of farmers still had a contributing life partner, against 37 % in 2016.

The total number of holdings has also decreased. In 2016, there were 36,888 agricultural holdings in Belgium. That is 2.3 % less than in 2013.

 

  2013 2016 Evolution
Agricultural holdings 37,761 36,888 -2%
Holder older than 50 with no successor 9,825 10,561 +7%
Contributing family workers:
Men holders 27,999 26,636 -5%
Working more than half-time 22,910 20,051 -12%
Full-time 20,327 15,824 -22%
Part-time 2,583 4,227 +64%
Working less than half-time 5,089 6,585 +29%
Women holders 4,724 4,436 -6%
Working more than half-time 3,326 2,614 -21%
Full-time 2,667 1,630 -39%
Part-time 659,0 984,0 +49%
Working less than half-time 1,398 1,822 +30%
Holder's partner working on the holding 14,792 11,588 -22%
Holders with a secondary job 1,508 3,146 +109%

 

Less pigs and more poultry: a growing trend

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