Subsidised Yes, but to What Effect? Evaluating Young Farmers’ Experiences of Rural Development Support in the North Aegean

Generational renewal constitutes a strategic priority of the common agricultural policy (CAP), yet the effectiveness of entry support measures depends not only on financial incentives but also on beneficiaries’ experiences and perceptions. This study examines the implementation of one of the landmark measures of the rural development programmes of the CAP, the Young Farmers Scheme (Measure 6.1–Start‐up Aid) in the North Aegean islands of Greece, surveying beneficiaries of the 2021–2022 call. The analysis addresses three research questions: motivations for participation, obstacles encountered during implementation, and the perceived effects of subsidies on farm management and attitudes toward subsidy allocation. Results indicate that entry into farming is strongly embedded in family background and land ownership, suggesting continuity of existing production trajectories rather than structural rupture. Although financial support is assessed positively, administrative complexity, bureaucracy and payment delays significantly shape beneficiaries’ experiences of the scheme. Subsidies are primarily perceived as strengthening farm structure, facilitating investment and improving risk management, while profitability gains form a distinct but secondary dimension. Participation in additional CAP measures, particularly investment and organic schemes, is widespread, reflecting a strategic engagement with policy instruments. Income differentiation further shapes attitudes, higher agricultural income reduces support for stricter eligibility criteria, whereas stronger dependence on farm income increases such preferences. Overall, the scheme functions effectively as an entry and liquidity‐support mechanism in less favoured island regions. However, its transformative capacity appears limited, as it primarily reinforces existing production trajectories. Enhancing long‐term effectiveness requires administrative simplification and complementary measures that promote diversification and regionally adapted sustainable development.