The impact of local actors on potato farmers' participation in the Norwegian Regional Agri-environmental Program

Summary in the original language of the document

This Master thesis presents a case study that investigates the impact of local actors on potato farmers' participation in the Norwegian Regional Agri-environmental Program (RMP). The study was conducted in the county of Innlandet, located in east Norway, and involved four different actors and a total of six individuals: three farmers, one local advisor, a Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO), and the County Governor of Innlandet.
The results underscore the crucial role of local advisors in positively influencing potato farmers' participation through individual climate advising, on-site demonstrations, field trips, and webinars. As a central player in RMP implementation, the MAOs positively impact farmers' participation by providing information materials, on-site consultations, meetings, and a tolerant approach during controls. The results also provide evidence that their peers'experiences can positively influence potato farmers. Machine-sharing among farmers emerges as a promising topic for enabling smaller potato farms to use RMP measures. Finally, the study shows that contractual obligations with economic actors can hinder potato farmers' participation in the RMP.