The role of instruments of the Common Agricultural Policy in securing sustainable development of rural areas. a case study of Opole Province

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to show the role of users of commercial agricultural holdings in the development of local areas and to select instruments of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which are significant in building developmental potentials of agriculture and rural areas in Opole Province. The modernization processes going on in commercial agriculture result in its de-placement. Thanks to
instruments of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) there follows a re-rooting of agriculture in the territory. On the basis of survey research carried out in 2014 in 100 commercial agricultural holdings based in Opole Province, which were selected for the purpose, the authors present an analysis of farmers’ opinions concerning different instruments of the CAP, which favor sustainable development of the country and agriculture. According to the farmers, the action “Modernization of agricultural holdings” make the priority instrument of the Program of Rural Areas Development (PRAD), while improvement of agricultural holdings’ profitability has facilitated the process of their ecological modernization. The results of the research confirm the fact that farmers still make a vital developmental environment in the rural areas of Opole Region. However, the research has revealed their weak support for financing of grassroots institutions within the actions of the Program of Rural Areas Development, which can pose a barrier to implementing the paradigm of integrated territorial development.