DIVERSIFICATION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF POLISH FARMS, RESULTS OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN PODLASKIE, PODKARPACKIE AND DOLNO-SLASKIE PROVINCES

摘要

The article presents the results of research into the diversification of economic activities of Polish farms in 1990--2000. Special attention is given in the article to factors that stimulate and hamper the farms' efforts to diversify their activities, and conclusions that should be drawn from this information by circles responsible for Poland's agricultural and rural development policy. Surveys, in the form of questionnaires, conducted in Podlaskie, Podkarpackie and Dolnoslaskie provinces have shown that the fluctuating incomes from farming and the need to earn an additional income were the main reasons behind the farmers' decisions to start up businesses and to seek employment outside the farm. Thus, assistance programmes supporting agricultural roduction diminish the propensity to diversify economic activities. Insufficient knowledge and abilities are the main reasons for not starting activities outside agriculture. The main barrier to the farmers' employment outside agriculture, in turn, is the high level of regional unemployment. As long as the problem of regional unemployment remains unsolved the influence of programmes adopted to develop public transportation and to raise the educational level of fanners will be limited. The surveys werecarried out within the research project "Strategy for Integrated Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas in CEE Countries" (IDARA), financed within the European Commissions Fifth Frame Programme (QLRT--1999--1526).