2003 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy: first effects on field crop farms in the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur region

Abstract

The Common Agricultural Policy reform (CAP) of June 2003 has changed the way the European Union supports its farm sector. The vast majority of subsidies are now paid independently from the volume of production as a single farm payment (decoupling), the payment is linked to the respect of the rules of the " cross-compliance " and the rural development policy is reinforced. The paper presents the results of a study carried out in 2006 and 2007, which analyzes the evolution of the strategies of farmers (in farms cultivating arable crops) to adapt their farm to this reform, in three main domains : land use, practises changing and evolution of sources of income. The study is based on an enquiry among farmers in three areas of the region " Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur " (in south of France): " dry " agriculture, irrigated agriculture and periurban agriculture. The study shows that the CAP reform has a direct effect on the choice of crops but his effect is less clear in the other domains and can be considered as one of the various factors influencing the strategies of farmers.