Small and medium enterprises: Threats for sustainable rural development

Abstract

For any nation's economic development, small & medium sized enterprises are considered as powerful engines. Although the number of agricultural enterprises within the family farming category is unknown, the nature of the economic, social, environmental and demographic problems that are faced by the enterprises of this nature and their regional repercussions stands out as important issues. In this study, the agricultural enterprise that uses family labour, completely or predominantly, is examined. Also, rural population and the ongoing trends in rural unemployment is researched. From this perspective, the tendency of family labour against the threats of rural disintegration is discussed.