CONDITIONS OF DEVELOPMENT OF ARABLE LAND BELONGING TO STATE TREASURY IN WARMINSKO-MAZURSKIE REGION.

The paper undertakes to investigate the issue of factors determining utilization and development of arable land belonging to the Treasury Agricultural Property Stock in Warminsko-Mazurskie region. The objective of the paper is to identify factors affecting operation and development of agricultural holdings using lands purchased or leased from the Treasury Agricultural Property Stock. The assessment was made based on opinions of purchasers and lessees of agricultural real estate belonging to the State Treasury in Warminsko- Mazurskie region. In the research, an opinion survey method is used, realized through questionnaire technique. The research sample included 179 people, ca. 70.9 % questionnaires were returned. 119 questionnaires were qualified for further analysis. The description of data was conducted using descriptive statistics methods as well as Kruskall-Wallis tests for selected variables. According to conducted research, market factors focusing on cost and demand, namely unstable prices of agricultural products and high prices of agricultural means of production, are of crucial significance to functioning and development of analysed farms. Large impact is also that of factors focused on resources, particularly acreage and quality of arable lands as well as available machinery. In opinion of respondents, an important development barrier is also limited access to external sources of financing, particularly credits, and complexity of application procedures for subsidies from the European Union. In case of deterioration of financial and economic situation, majority of respondents would reduce expenditures and attempt to obtain support in form of short-term loan. Importantly, virtually nobody would consider selling land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]