In highly developed countries agriculture is still important, but it is not the
leading sector of the economy. Rural areas still account for the major portion of
territories of such countries, thus continuing to be an important determinant
of socio-economic policy. Today, environmental problems are becoming increasingly
more important because the contemporary society has a new perspective on
the advantages of rural areas and natural conditions, cultural and historical peculiarities
and landscape curiosities. These factors are more and more important as
elements of a full life. Problems of the rural environment take on a new significance
also because local development is no longer shaped by one (earlier dominant)
sector. Local development is now considered in the light of territorial
development and support programmes targeted, in particular, at areas, to same
extent, isolated and affected by development difficulties. Therefore, there appears
a transitional stage between the policy of equalisation of the level of development
and policy of providing subsidies from targeted programmes fostering and supporting
the local development. Development of non-agricultural sectors of the
economy or services in rural areas gives new job and income opportunities. New
social understanding of the advantages of rural regions crops up. In developed
countries, the development of rural areas is increasingly more dependent on activity
of local entrepreneurs and on securing external sources of financing.
In the recently changing socio-economic reality, not only in Poland, characteristics
resulting from special conditions of the rural areas acquire a new dimension
directly affecting the situation of the rural population. The farming family is
still a consumer community and a production team, where family and production
roles coincide. Nowadays, not only care and educational but also decision-making
and organisational activities concerning an agricultural holding holistically are important.
Fulfilment of both these functions sets new tasks for farmers – it is now
necessary to have qualifications linked to planning and management of a family
budget, knowledge in the field of rational and economical nutrition and skills in
interior design. How a family manages its financial means, time and energy preconditions
success or failure of the entire farm. Increase in the wealth of individuals
and narrowing down glaring gaps in living standards are treated as the
most important goals which should be implemented in the socio-economic development
process.