The influence of pursuing higher education on the succession process in rural properties

Abstract

Family succession is a constant challenge on rural properties, influenced by educational, personal and economic factors. In view of this, this study aimed to analyze the intention of rural producers' children to remain in family farming after completing higher education. The sampling was by convenience, with questionnaires sent by institutional leaders and course coordinators, totaling 192 participants, of which 55 met the research criteria from two higher education institutions in southern Brazil. It used a qualitative-quantitative approach, combining inductive qualitative analysis of students' responses and descriptive statistics for quantitative interpretation of the data. In this way, it sought to understand to what extent different factors influence the decision of young people to remain in rural areas. The results highlight that approximately 35.9% of the interviewees expressed a desire to return to the rural property after completing higher education. It is important to highlight that 48.7% of the participants mentioned that the activity on the rural property is promising. Although the data reveal a balance between the reasons for choosing the type of university education with the aim of returning to the farm (41%) or changing industry (49%), it is clear that parents exert considerable influence in guiding their children towards the value of academic knowledge. The decision to remain in agriculture suggests that education provides the tools and knowledge necessary to innovate and make agricultural practices more efficient and sustainable.

Keywords: succession planning; agricultural modernization; rural exodus; migration.