依據〈農業發展條例〉有關休閒農業之界定分析，休閒農業具有鄉村總體營造、人民參與、社區認同及農業傳統功能重塑的社會意涵。本研究從鄉村發展、永續發展及農業多重性功能探討休閒農業這一個新興的農業經營產業。發展休閒農業可視為是農業經濟轉型、鄉村社會轉型及鄉村社會價值重塑、鄉村發展模式建構。為休閒農業永續發展，建議需修訂相關法律、積極開放有效管理、建立整合性人力資源發展制度及培養獨立自主的臺灣新農業人格及創造力。

From the rural sociological interpretation, agricultural tourism implies rural community development, participation of people, recognition of community and reshaping function of conventional agriculture. This analysis concludes that the development of agricultural tourism can be regarded as rural social and economical transfer, rural social value restructing and model build up of rural development. For the sustainable development of agricultural tourism, this analysis suggests that related laws have to be amended, human resources developmemnt has to be further strengthened, and a personality of independent and self-reliance of new agriculture has to be cultivated.