A C T A U N 1 V E R S I T A T I S L O D Z I E N S I S F O L I A S O C I O L O G I C A 14, 1987_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E l ż b i e t a P s y k - P i o t r o w s k a A G R I C U L T U R A L P R O D U C T I O N C O O P E R A T I V E S IN THE RU RAL M I L I E U The p r e s e n c e of th r e e s e c t o r s in P o l i s h a g r i c u l t u r e gi v e s s p e c i a l c h a r a c t e r to the p e r s p e c t i v e of s t a b i l i t y and d e v e l o p -m e n t of the p e a s a n t v i l l a g e , as we ll as to the p l a c e and ro le of its p r o d u c t i v e p a r t n e r s . The c o e x i s t e n c e of th r e e d i f f e r e n t fo r m s of fa r m s n e e d not h a v e c o m p e t i t i v e c h a r a c t e r , g i v e n p r o p e r p o l i -cy of the st a t e and c r e a t i o n of the sa m e (in c o m p l i a n c e w i t h the n e e d s ) c h a n c e s of d e v e l o p m e n t for e a c h of t h e s e forms.
N a t i o n a l i z e d far ms , b e i n g g i v e n (in ca s e of s t a t e - o w n e d f a r m s ) or h a v i n g c o n f i r m e d (in the s i t u a t i o n of p r o d u c t i o n c o -o p e r a t i v e s ) the r i g h t s t-o i n d e p e n d e n t m a n a g e m e n t , i n c r e a s i n g l y a c q u i r e the c h a r a c t e r of local e s t a b l i s h m e n t s . Bou nd, in their f u n c t i o n s , w i t h a s o c i a l and g r o u p ( p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e ) i n -ter est, they m e e t a n u m b e r of n e e d s of the ru ral milieu.
In the article, the a t t e n t i o n has be e n f o c u s e d on the p r o d u c -ti o n c o o p e r a t i v e as one of the e l e m e n t s of the P o l i s h c o u n t r y - -sid e. The k e y n o t e is the s t a t e m e n t that e c o n o m i c a l l y strong p r o -d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s ha v e p o t e n t i a l a b i l i t i e s an-d they a c t u a l l y r e a l i z e e n v i r o n m e n t a l f u n c t i o n s , p l a y i n g als o an e s s e n t i a l ro le in the p r o c e s s of m o d e r n i z a t i o n and m o d i f i c a t i o n of the c o u n t r y -side.
P r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s f u n c t i o n i n g in P o l a n d n o w a d a y s c o n s t i t u t e r e m n a n t s of the u n s u c c e s s f u l a t t e m p t at the c o u n t r y c o l -l e c t i v i z a t i o n at the end of 1940s and in the b e g i n n i n g of 1950s or s t r u c t u r e s b r o u g h t into b e i n g at the e nd of n û O s and 1970s. In the o l d e s t c o o p e r a t i v e s , a h i g h p e r c e n t a g e of e m p l o y e e s are d e s c e n d a n t s of the f o u n d e r s of these c o o p e r a t i v e s (now p e n s i o n
-ers w h o d id not r e t u r n to i n d i v i d u a l f a r m i n g in 19 50 s). It is the o ld c o o p e r a t i v e s th a t s e e m to be m o r e s t r o n g l y i n t e g r a t e d w i t h the lo c a l s o c i a l m i l i e u of the v i l l a g e t h a n o t h e r s . Th is t y p e of a p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s e r v e s as an e x a m p l e i l l u s t r a t -ing the p r o b l e m s d e a l t w i t h in the f u r t h e r p a r t of the a r t i c l e .
A g r i c u l t u r a l f a r m s in the p r i v a t e , s t a t e a nd c o o p e r a t i v e s e c -to r s f u n c t i o n on t he b a s i s of s e p e r a t e le g a l r e g u l a t i o n s , d i f -f e r e n t o r g a n i s a t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s c o n c e r n i n g the w o r k process, its r e s u l t s , s e t t l e m e n t , d i s t r i b u t i o n of i n c ome, e t c . 1 The d e c i s i o n p o s s i b i l i t i e s of s t a f f s and t h e i r s e l f - m a n a g e m e n t a c t i v i t y are d i v e r s i f i e d .
The p o p u l a t i o n e m p l o y e d in the a g r i c u l t u r a l s e c t o r s ( i n d i v i -dua l f a r m e r s as w e l l as e m p l o y e e s of the s t a t e - o w n e d fa r m s and m e m b e r s of the c o o p e r a t i v e e m p l o y e d d i r e c t l y in the p r o d u c t i o n ) c o n s t i t u t e s a c o n s i d e r a b l e p e r c e n t a g e of t he p o p u l a t i o n l i v i n g in v i l l a g e s 2 . A g r i c u l t u r a l e m p l o y e e s are not on l y food p r o d u c e r s but als o p a r t i c i p a n t s of a d e f i n i t e rural s o c i o c u l t u r a l and m a -t e r i a l m i l i e u , are c o n s u m e r s of g o o d s and u s e r s of f a c i l i t i e s and i n s t i t u t i o n s f o u n d in th i s m i l i e u . " F o o d p r o d u c e r s " in ru r a l d i s t r i c t s , in w h i c h t h e r e is a s t a t e o w n e d f a r m o r / a n d an a g r i -c u l t u r a l p r o d u -c t i o n -c o o p e r a t i v e ap a r t f r o m i n d i v i d u a l farms,
The s e c t o r s h a v e d i f f e r e n t p a r t i c i p a t i o n in the g l o b a l a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n and area of f a r m l a n d . A c c o r d i n g to the R o c z n i k S t a t y s t y c z n y G US ( S t a t i s t i c a l Y e a r b o o k of the C e n t r a l S t a t i s t i c a l O f f i c e ) of 1985, the ar e a of f a r m l a n d as r e g a r d s f o r m s of o w n e r s h i p in 1984 a m o u n t e d to: to t a l 18 945 000 ha. s o c i a l i z e d e c o n o m y 5 395 000 ha. (in this: s t a t e - o w n e d f a r m s 3 511 000 ha. p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s 669 0 00 ha. n o n - s o c i a l i z e d e c o n o m y 13 530 000 ha. ( t a b l e 4, p. 277) n u m b e r of p r o d u c t i o n e s t a b l i s h m e n t s p u r s u i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t y s t a t e - o w n e d f a r m s 1 278 p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s 2 342 i n d i v i d u a l f a r m s of a b o v e 0.5 h e c t a r e 284 400 a v e r a g e t o t a l are a of the farms:
s t a t e - o w n e d f a r m s 3 169 ha. p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s 330 ha. i n d i v i d u a l f a r m s of ab o v e
0.5 h e c t a r e 5.6 h e c t a r e s ( t a b l e 7, p. 279)
2 A c c o r d i n g to the C e n t r a l S t a t i s t i c a l O f f i c e dat a the R o -c z n i k S t a t y s t y -c z n y ( S t a t i s t i -c a l Y e a r b o o k ) of 1985 - the ru r a l
h a v e d i f f e r e n t a c c e s s and c h a n c e s of u s i n g m a t e r i a l , s o c i a l and c u l t u r a l goods . The i n h a b i t a n t s of a d i s t r i c t ( i n c l u d i n g f a r m e r s ) c an m a k e use of s e r v i c e s of the i n s t i t u t i o n s and the e q u i p m e n t g e n e r a l l y a c c e s s i b l e in thi s m i l i e u , of the p o s s i b i l i t i e s b e i n g at the d i s p o s a l of a s t a t e o w n e d fa r m or an a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c tio n c o o p e r a t i v e fi r s t of all as rega r d s , s o c i o c u l t u r a l a c t i v i -ty (and in r e l a t i o n to s o m e forms of a c t i v i t y ) , exclusively t h o s e e m p l o y e d in the m and t h e i r f a m i l i e s c an m a k e u s e of the a b o v e - - m e n t i o n e d p o s s i b i l i t i e s .
I n d i v i d u a l f a r m e r s a re p r a c t i c a l l y d e p r i v e d of an i n s t i t u -t i o n a l i z e d , local o r g a n i z e r and s p o n s o r for this k i n d of a c t i v i -ty to m e e t th e i r needs.
D i f f e r e n t a c c e s s i b i l i t y , for the e m p l o y e e s of t h r e e s e c t o r s of a g r i c u l t u r e , to the f a c i l i t i e s and s o c i a l s e r v i c e s is not the o n l y f e a t u r e d i f f e r e n t i a t i n g t h e i r s i t u a t i o n of life. T h e r e are s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s in the s i t u a t i o n it self, u n d e r s t o o d g e -n e r a l l y , a-nd i-n the w o r k i -n g c o -n d i t i o -n s . ^ n S£S6_^j^eatiu_es__of_jj[grk_ in the s o c i a l i z e d _and__injJividual e c o n o m y W o r k in the so c a l l e d s o c i a l s e c t o r ( c o o p e r a t i v e or s tate) is c o l l e c t i v e w o r k of m a n y p e o ple, o r g a n i z e d in formalize d s t r u c -tu r e s w here, by v i r t u e of le gal r e g u l a t i o n s , th e r e is d i v i s i o n of l a b o u r w i t h i n a d e f i n i t e s c o p e of a c t i v i t i e s for p a r t i c u l a r p o s t s and f u n c t i o n s . The d i v i s i o n of d u t i e s r e l a t e d w i t h the w h o l e p r o d u c t i o n p r o c e s s is c o n n e c t e d w i t h d i f f e r e n t decision p o s -s i b i l i t i e -s at p a r t i c u l a r po-st-s , and r e -s p o n -s i b i l i t y for p a r t i a l t a s k s and o v e r a l l p r o d u c t i o n e f f e c t s of the e s t a b l i s h m e n t . The e m p loyees' d e c i s i o n p o s s i b i l i t i e s , the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for p r o d u c -t i o n - e c o n o m i c r e s u l -t s f o r m a l l y e x e r c i s e d and s u b j e c -t i v e l y fel-t, d i f f e r e n t i a t e the s t a f f of a s t a t e - o w n e d far m and an a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e , but the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for p r o s p e r i t y of p o p u l a t i o n in 1984 a m o u n t e d to 14 8 3 9 . 7 thous. (p. 4) 8 173 4 thous. w er e at the w o r k i n g age (p. 40), 4964 thous. ’w o r k e d
in
the a g r i c u l t u r e , in this: 46 26 thous. in s t a t e - o w n e d , c o o p e r athe w h o l e e s t a b l i s h m e n t is g r e a t e r a m o n g the e m p l o y e e s of A g r i c u l t u r a l P r o d u c t i o n C o o p e r a t i v e s (AP C) than t h o s e of S t a t e - - O w n e d F a r m s (SOF). Thi s is c o n d i t i o n e d by the r e g u l a t i o n s of the c o o p e r a t i v e law w h i c h m a k e it p o s s i b l e to for m an e m p l o y e e s ' t e a m as a c o m m u n i t y of aims. The d e g r e e a nd r a n g e of s a t i s f y i n g i n d i v i d u a l n e e d s a nd i n t e r e s t s is mo r e , tha n in a s t a t e - o w n e d farm, c o n d i t i o n e d by e f f e c t i v e r e a l i z a t i o n of ai m s a nd s u c c e s s e s of the w h o l e " e s t a b l i s h m e n t " .
Any f a i l u r e a nd s a n c t i o n s for ill or i n c o r r e c t m a n a g e m e n t of the c o o p e r a t i v e b r i n g s f i n a n c i a l l o s s e s u p o n the m e m b e r s of the c o o p e r a t i v e , d e p r i v e s t h e m of the p o s s i b i l i t y of i n c r e a s i n g the d a i l y rate, c a u s e s a r e d u c t i o n or lo ss of a b onus, a nd can e v e n c a u s e a d e c r e a s e in the b a s i c rat e of pay.
O n e - m a n d e c i s i o n s , c o n c e r n i n g all the a c t i v i t i e s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t he p r o d u c t i o n on h is farm, m a d e by a f a r m e r are the r e s u l t of c o n s c i o u s a c t i o n s in the i n t e r e s t of his own, h is f a m i l y and th e f a r m itself. F a i l u r e s in the p r o d u c t i o n s p h e r e h a v e a n e g a -t i v e e f f e c -t (as in -the s o c i a l i z e d f o r m s ) no-t o n l y u p o n e c o n o m i c r e s u l t s of the f a m i l y farm, but b r i n g a b o u t w i d e s o c i a l r e p e r -c u s s i o n s . Thi s b r o a d e r c o n t e x t of o n e ' s o w n a c t i v i t y is onl y o b s e r v e d in the s i t u a t i o n of m a k i n g c a l c u l a t i o n s by a f a r mer, c o n c e r n i n g the p o s s i b i l i t y of d e v e l o p i n g h is o w n farm. No i n -t e r v e n -t i o n s of -the s -t a -t e in -the p r o d u c -t i o n a c -t i v i -t y of i n d i v i d u a l f a r m s h a v e b e e n a b l e to c h a n g e e f f i c i e n t l y and p e r m a n e n t l y a p e a s a n t ' s b a s i c d e c i s i o n s c o n c e r n i n g the e s t a b l i s h e d p r a c t i c e t o w a r d s the e c o n o m y m a n a g e d 3 . He f o l l o w s his own logi c, c a l c u -l a t i o n a nd s i m p -l i f i e d e c o n o m i c c a -l c u -l u s , on the g r o u n d s of li fe and p r o f e s s i o n a l e x p e r i e n c e o b t a i n e d on the f a m i l y farm, i n c r e a -s i n g l y -s u p p o r t e d by -s c h o o l and h a n d b o o k k n o w l e d g e d e r i v e d fr om m a s s m e d i a and ü t h e r s o u r c e s . He u t i l i z e s m o r e and more, the s e r -v i c e s of ru r a l a g r i c u l t u r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s for the go o d of m o d e r n e c o n o m y , a nd i n c l u d i n g m a r k e t i n t e r r e l a t i o n s of the m a c r o s y
-In the c o u n t r y s i d e , t h e r e are a g r i c u l t u r a l a s s o c i a t i o n s and o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s e n t i t l e d to the s o c i o - e d u c a t i o n a l and c u l -t u r a l - e d u c a -t i o n a l e c -t i v i -t y . H o w e v e r , t h e i r f i n a n c i a l and o r g a n i s a t i o n a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s are m u c h le s s t h a n t h o s e of the p r o d u c -ti o n c o o p e r a t i v e , e s p e c i a l l y in the s p h e r e of s o c i a l s e r v i c e s (fl ats, n u r s e r i e s , n u r s e r y - s c h o o l s , c a n t e e n s , h o l i d a y s , etc.).
s t e m of the fo o d e c o n o m y it in f a c i l i t a t e s s y n c h r o n i z a t i o n of so-cia l i n t e r e s t s a nd t h o s e of the f a m i l y farm.
As c o m p a r e d w i t h p o t e n t i a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s of r u n n i n g a nd d e -v e l o p m e n t of i n d i -v i d u a l f a r m s and p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i -v e s , the f o l l o w i n g f e a t u r e s s h o u l d be p o i n t e d out. In r e l a t i o n to at l e a s t p a r t of a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s it can be sai d t ha t th e y c o n s t i t u t e a f o r m of ( g e n u i n e l y ) s e l f d e p e n d e n t c o l -l e c t i v e f a r m i n g . The y are la r g e f a r m s w h o s e o r g a n i z a t i o n is e n -s u r e d by at le a -s t a -s u f f i c i e n t n u m b e r of l a b o u r e r -s ( w h i c h i-s not a l w a y s the c a s e on an i n d i v i d u a l far m the p r o b l e m of farms w i t h -ou t s u c c e s s o r s , r un by the old p e o p l e , e tc.), by b e i n g w e l l - - e q u i p p e d w i t h a g r i c u l t u r a l m a c h i n e r y w h i c h s e c u r e s e f f i c i e n t r e a l i z a t i o n of all the o p e r a t i o n s a nd a c t i v i t i e s c o n n e c t e d w it h d i f f e r e n t p h a s e s of the p r o d u c t i o n p r o c e s s . An a v e r a g e f a r m e r is, to a c o n s i d e r a b l e d e g r e e , d e p e n d e n t on the s e r v i c e s of lo c a l a g r i c u l t u r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s w h i c h do not a l -w a y s r e n d e r t h e i r s e r v i c e s efficiently.. H e has m u c h m o r e d i f -f i c u l t y in o b t a i n i n g m a t e r i a l s and m a c h i n e r y -for p r o d u c t i o n and in s e l l i n g his p r o d u c t s . P r o d u c t s of a c o o p e r a t i v e are so l d w h o -l e s a -l e to a c e n t r e of p u r c h a s i n g of f a r m p r o d u c t s or to o t h e r i n s t i t u t i o n s w i t h i n t he s c o p e of c o o p e r a t i v e c o n t r a c t s . F a r m e r s in the n e i g h b o u r h o o d of s o c i a l i z e d a g r i c u l t u r a l f a r m s are o f t e n d e p r i v e d of p o s s i b i l i t y of c o n t r a c t i n g so m e p r o f i t a b l e c r o p s (pea, r ape), m o n o p o l i z e d by t h e s e e s t a b l i s h m e n t s . T he p r o d u c t i o n s c a l e a nd r a n g e on an i n d i v i d u a l p e a s a n t ’s f a r m is g e n e r a l l y s m a l l e r tha n in an a v e r a g e p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a -ti ve . On his own farm, he is a m a n a g e r , a p r o d u c t i o n o r g a n i z e r , a p e r f o r m e r of m a n y v a r i o u s a c t i v i t i e s r e l a t e d w i t h all the p r o -d u c t i o n p h a s e s . This m u l t i p l i c i t y of f u n c t i o n s is for an a v e r -age f a r m e r m o r e d i f f i c u l t to c o p e w i t h tha n for a w e l l - o r g a n i z e d s o c i a l i z e d e s t a b l i s h m e n t . Bo t h m e m b e r s of a c o o p e r a t i v e and i n d i v i d u a l f a r m e r s are a w a r e t h a t t h e i r s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g a n d f i n a n c i a l s i t u a t i o n d e -p e n d on the -p r o d u c t i o n e f f e c t s . In t he o p i n i o n of b o t h t h e s e c a t e g o r i e s m e m b e r s of a c o o p e r a t i v e are in a b e t t e r f i n a n c i a l p o -s i t i o n . The y a l s o h a v e b e t t e r s o c i o - c u l t u r a l c o n d i t i o n s due to the f a c i l i t i e s b e i n g at the d i s p o s a l of a c o o p e r a t i v e . P r o p e r e q u i p m e n t of s o c i a l i z e d e s t a b l i s h m e n t s for p u r s u i n g p r o d u c t i o n a c t i v i t y , s u b o r d i n a t i o n of the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e
and p o s t s to the f u n d a m e n t a l l i n e s of p r o d u c t i o n , t a k i n g into c o n s i d e r a t i o n a u x i l i a r y d e p a r t m e n t s a nd n o n - f a r m p r o d u c t i o n m a k e it p o s s i b l e to d r a w on r e s e r v e s w h i c h can, to a d i f f e r e n t d e -g r e e and in a d i f f e r e n t way, be u t i l i z e d by a s t a t e - o w n e d f a r m or a p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e for s e r v i c e s in f a v o u r of the l o c a l r u -ral m i l i e u . P r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s go o ut of its o u t - t h e - w a y l o c a l i t y m o r e o f t e n t h a n s t a t e farm s, w h i c h is j u s t i f i e d by the c h a r a c te r of t h e s e t wo s t r u c t u r e s . T he s t a t e o w n e d f a r m is an e c o n o -m i c s t a t e i n s t i t u t i o n , an a g r i c u l t u r a l e s t a b l i s h -m e n t s i t u a t e d in t he r u r a l ar ea . F r o m the s tart, its o r g a n i z a t i o n , a c t i v i t y and d e v e l o p m e n t w e r e s t i m u l a t e d by the d e c i s i o n s of s t a t e a u t h o r i t y as in o t h e r n o n - f a r m e n t e r p r i s e s . The y w e r e s t r u c t u r e s r a t h e r isol a t e d f r o m a isol o c a isol r u r a isol m i isol i e u . The isol a t e s t e c o n o m i c r e f o r m c o n -f e r r e d a l s o to s t a t e - o w n e d -f a r m s g r e a t e r r i g h t s to s e l -f - d e p e n d - ent a c t i v i t y w i t h all its c o n s e q u e n c e s . A b e t t e r c h a n c e c r o p p e d up to c r e a t e c l o s e r l i n k s w i t h the r u r a l - d i s t r i c t m i l i e u and its a g r i c u l t u r a l c o m m u n i t y .
P r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s f u n c t i o n on t he b a s i s of r e g u l a t i o n s of " C o o p e r a t i v e Law" , the s t a t u t e a nd i n t e r n a l r e g u l a t i o n s . They h a v e a l w a y s b e e n r e l a t i v e l y m o r e s e l f - d e p e n d e n t and i n d e p e n d e n t t h a n s t a t e - o w n e d farms , e v e n d u r i n g the p e r i o d s of the state in-t e r f e r e n c e in 1 9 5 0 s and in-the l a in-t in-t e r par in-t of 1970s . The y are an a s s o c i a t i o n , w h e r e the s e l f - m a n a g e m e n t f a c t o r has g e n e r a l l y played a s u b s t a n t i a l role . A g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s , e s -p e c i a l l y t h o s e h a v i n g l o n g t r a d i t i o n s , f u n c t i o n i n g s i n c e 1 9 5 0 s and 1960s, w e r e r e l a t i v e l y w e l l - p r e p a r e d to r e a l i z e in t h e i r e c o n o m y t h r e e " S ’s" ( s e l f - d e p e n d e n c e , s e l f - m a n a g e m e n t and s e l f f i n a n -c i n g ) . The c o o p e r a t i v e s t h a t s u r v i v e d a d i f f i c u l t e a r l y stage, did not " b e c o m e a f f e c t e d " and w e r e a b l e to u t i l i z e s t a t e a s s e t s r a t i o n a l l y d u r i n g the p e r i o d of p r o - c o o p e r a t i v e p o l i c y of 1970 s c o n s t i t u t e p r o s p e r o u s o r g a n i s m s . M a n y of t h e m h a v e b e c o m e a s t r u c t u r e set in to the s y s t e m of e c o n o m i c - s e r v i c e i n s t i t u t i o n s a nd o r g a n i z a t i o n s of the ru ral d i s t r i c t and the y o f t e n d i s t i n g u i s h t h e m s e l v e s by e f f i c i e n c y , m u l t i p l i c i t y of f u n c t i o n s , u t i l i t y for a r u r a l m i l i e u at large. G e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , th e y are the c o o p e r a t i v e s tha t o b t a i n e d e f -f i c i e n c y in the a c t i v i t i e s t h r o u g h p r o p e r m a n a g e m e n t m e c h a n i s m s :
the m a t t e r s c o n c e r n i n g a g r i c u l t u r e , o r g a n i z a t i o n and e c o n o m i c s of a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n a nd f i n a n c i a l s e t t l e m e n t s . O r d e r l y and r e q u i r i n g w o r k d i s c i p l i n e fro m the emp l o y e e s ' te a m s and, at the sa m e time, s h o w i n g c o n c e r n for p r o p e r h u m a n r e l a t i o n s a nd r e a l i -z a t i o n of s o c i a l - e c o n o m i c n e e d s of the staff.
2. They d e c e n t r a l i z e d m a n a g e m e n t , w h i c h i m p r o v e s f u n c t i o n i n g of the e s t a b l i s h m e n t . W i t h i n s u c h s t r u c t u r e s , em ploy ees' t e a m s are i n t e r g r a t e d , e n g a g e d in work. M u t u a l i n s p e c t i o n of q u a l i t y of w o r k is b e t t e r for the a m o u n t of p a y m e n t d e p e n d s on it.
3. The y c r e a t e c h a n c e s of the s t a f f ’s p a r t i c i p a t i o n in m a k -ing d e c i s i o n s i m p o r t a n t for the e s t a b l i s h m e n t and p r o d u c t i o n , w h i c h m a k e s the e m p l o y e e s i d e n t i f y t h e m s e l v e s w i t h the e s t a -b l i s h m e n t . Th ey w o r k e f f i c i e n t l y for they r e a l i z e t ha t p r o d u c -ti o n r e s u l t s and i n c o m e and, c o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e i r o w n pay d e p e n d on t h e i r work.
4. They use, a c c o r d i n g to the e s t a b l i s h m e n t n eeds, c a s u a l t r a n s f e r s of p e r s o n s to u n d e r t a k e s o m e o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s , thus, m a k i n g e f f i c i e n t use of the s t a f f ' s w o r k and e n s u r i n g c o n t i -n u i t y a-nd e f f i c i e -n c y of p r o d u c t i o -n i-n the e s t a b l i s h m e -n t .
5. a) a g e n e r a l m a n a g e r p r e s i d e n t , ap a r t f r o m w i d e c o m p e t e n -ce and k n o w l e d g e , has q u a l i t i e s f a c i l i t a t i n g p r o p e r i n s p e c t i o n and c o o r d i n a t i o n of all the m a t t e r s in the e s t a b l i s h m e n t ,
b) the m a n a g e r w ho r e p r e s e n t s i n t e r e s t s of the st a f f and e s -t a b l i s h m e n -t in c o n -t a c -t s w i -t h o -t h e r i n s -t i -t u -t i o n s ,
c) w h o has go o d k n o w l e d g e of the m a r k e t p o s i t i o n an d r e a c t s q u i c k l y to all c h a n g e s 4 .
In c o m p l i a n c e wit h the " C o o p e r a t i v e La w " act, p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s can, a p a r t fro m a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n , p u r s u e m a n u -f a c t u r e and s e r v i c e a c t i v i t y w i t h i n the s c o p e e s t a b l i s h e d in the s t a t u t e .
4 In the light of the law, o u t e r i n t e r f e r e n c e , i n c l u d i n g the t a k i n g ov e r of the far m by the st ate, is p o s s i b l e o n l y in r e l a ti o n to som e f a r m e r s (of the so c a l l e d u n a t t e n d e d t o farms, h a v -ing no p r o s p e c t of f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t , etc.).
The so c a l l e d f u n d a m e n t a l a c t i v i t y p u r s u e d to a p r o p e r e x t e n t b r i n g s c o n s i d e r a b l e b e n e f i t s to the c o o p e r a t i v e and the m i l i e u . It n ot o n l y c o n s t i t u t e s an a d d i t i o n a l s o u r c e of i n c om e, but, f i r s t of all, is a g u a r a n t e e of c o n t i n u o u s w o r k of the m e m b e r s of t he c o o p e r a t i v e e v e n d u r i n g a p e r i o d of p o o r e r d e m a n d f or w or k on the f a r m ( t h e r e b y , it a l l o w s to u t i l i z e h u m a n l a b o u r m o r e e f -f i c i e n t l y ) . The c o o p e r a t i v e s p u r s u i n g e x t r a - f u n d a m e n t a l a c t i v i t y s p e n d s o m e f i n a n c i a l m e a n s on r e a l i z i n g i n v e s t m e n t , t h u s r e d u c -ing t h e i r n e e d s as r e g a r d s b a n k i n g i n v e s t m e n t c r e d i t s , a nd they e v e n b e c o m e e n t i r e l y s e l f - f i n a n c i n g ( w i t h o u t s u b s i d i e s a nd s t a t e c r e d i t s ) . A l l o c a t i o n of all the i n c o m e of e x trafundamental p r o -d u c t i o n (as it h a p p e n s in t he c o o p e r a t i v e K, w h e r e the s h a r e of t h i s p r o d u c t i o n in the t o t a l i n c o m e a m o u n t s to 30%) to an i n c r e a s e in t he s t a t u t e a l l o w a n c e s p e r m i t s to a c c e l e r a t e the c o -o p e r a t i v e d e v e l -o p m e n t , a m -o n g -o t h e r t h i n g s , by i n c r e a s i n g the i n v e s t m e n t fund, a n d b r i n g s b e n e f i t s to the m e m b e r s by an i n -c r e a s e in -c o l l e -c t i v e -c o n s u m p t i o n ( s o -c i o - -c u l t u r a l a nd h o u s i n g ) fun ds. T h e y are not i m m e d i a t e f i n a n c i a l b e n e f i t s e x p r e s s e d by an i n c r e a s e in m o n t h l y w ages. A c c e p t a n c e of s u c h a s i t u a t i o n by the m e m b e r s is p o s s i b l e at a h i g h d a i l y rat e e n s u r i n g r e a s o n a b l e m o n t h l y w a g e s , w i t h u n d e r s t a n d i n g the m e c h a n i s m s of the c o o p e -r a t i v e d e v e l o p m e n t and the -r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n th i s d e v e l o p m e n t and a b e t t e r e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n of t h e i r own. B u i l d i n g - r e p a i r b r i g a d e s p l a y an i m p o r t a n t rol e in n o n - f a r m a c t i v i t y . C r e a t i o n of t h e i r own b r i g a d e m a k e s it p o s s i b l e to b u i l d and m a i n t a i n a p a r t m e n t and fa r m b u i l d i n g s a c c o r d i n g to t h e i r o w n n e e d s and p o s s i b i l i t i e s w i t h o u t h a v i n g to use s e r v i -ces, o f t e n q u e s t i o n e d , of a g r i c u l t u r a l b u i l d i n g e n t e r p r i s e s . These w o r k i n g g a n g s a l s o p r o v i d e s e r v i c e s for r u r a l i n h a b i t a n t s and i n s t i t u t i o n s . A g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s c o m p l e m e n t a s y s t e m of i n s t i t u t i o n s i m p o r t a n t for the w h o l e r u r a l m i l i e u , s o l v e a n u m b -er of its p r o b l e m s a c t i n g as a c o n t r a c t o r or c o - i n v e s t o r of such u n d e r t a k i n g s as: the b u i l d i n g of s c h o o l s , n u r s e r y s c h o o l s , p h a r -ma c i e s , v i l l a g e l i b r a r i e s , s a c r a l b u i l d i n g s (e.g. a c h a p e l ) . The y m e l i o r a t e and r e c u l t i v a t e f a r m l a n d , b u i l d and r e p a i r roads. As c an be s e e n f r o m p r a c t i c e , the p o s s i b i l i t i e s of a p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e are a b u n d a n t . For i n s t a n c e , the c o o p e r a t i v e , g i v e n h e r e as an e x a m p l e , h as b u i l t two h y d r o p h o r e s y s t e m s for its own
n e e d s but the i n h a b i t a n t s of the d i s t r i c t als o use it. It has s t a r t e d b u i l d i n g a s e w a g e - t r e a t m e n t pla nt. It h as b u i l t a c c e s s ro a d s to its s e v e n e s t a b l i s h m e n t s . Now, t h a n k s to the c o o p e r a -ti ve p r e s i d e n t ’s e f f o r t s , in a g r e e m e n t w i t h c e n t r a l and d i s t r i c t a u t h o r i t i e s , it has s t a r t e d b u i l d i n g a d i s t r i c t s chool (above the t e r r i t o r i a l plan). The c o o p e r a t i v e p l a y s the rol e of a c o i n -vestor. The b u i l d i n g is due to be put ter use in a ye a r and a half. It is a w o r k a b l e dat e of c o m p l e t i o n , t a k i n g into a c c o u n t the te m p o of r e a l i z a t i o n of the i n v e s t m e n t s u n d e r t a k e n so far. For e x a m p l e , the s o c i a l b u i l d i n g of h i g h s t a n d a r d , w i t h a r e -c r e a t i o n roo m for four h u n d r e d p e r s o n s , a n u r s e r y s -c h o o l for 120 c h i l d r e n (50% of p l a c e s for the v i l l a g e r s ) , a large c a n t e e n for the m e m b e r s of the c o o p e r a t i v e , th r e e l a r g e fl a t s for the e m -p l o y e e s ( i n c l u d i n g the -p r e s i d e n t ) , fou r g u e s t - r o o m s , c o m f o r t a b l e r o o m s for the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , etc., w as b u i l t in 9 m o n ths.
The p a r t i c i p a t i o n of a p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e in the c o m p l e m -ent of the c o m m u n a l and i n s t i t u t i o n a l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e s e r v i n g the i n h a b i t a n t s of the w h o l e v i l l a g e is one of the fo r m s of a c t i -vi ty for the b e n e f i t of the m i l ieu. P r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s pla y a c e r t a i n ro le in the s p h e r e of c u l t u r e and e n t e r t a i n m e n t of the rural p o p u l a t i o n . They u s u a l l y ha v e la r g e r e c r e a t i o n r o o m s w h i c h are a p l a c e of g e n e r a l m e e t i n g s , o t h e r m e e t i n g s and p e r f o r m a n -ce s o r g a n i z e d for m e m b e r s of the c o o p e r a t i v e . T h e a t r e a nd m u s i c g r o u p s as w el l as a m o b i l e c i n e m a аг ё i n v i t e d a n d t h e n a n u m b e r of th e t i c k e t s ar e s o l d to the n o n - c o o p e r a t i v e c o m m u n i t y in the d i s t r i c t . R e c r e a t i o n r o o m s of the p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e are, b e s i d e a c c o m m o d a t i o n of the v o l u n t a r y f i r e - b r i g a d e , a p l a c e for w e d d i n g p a r t i e s , f u n e r a l b a n q u e t s an d da n c e s . There , n a t i o n a l h o l i d a y s ar e c e l e b r a t e d a n d at th e t i m e of e l e c t i o n to the p a r -l i a m e n t or th e p e o p -l e ' s c o u n c i -l t h e y ar e a s e a t of c o m m i t t e e s . M a n y c o o p e r a t i v e s ru n r e s t a u r a n t s , u s i n g p a r t l y t h e i r ow n p r o -d u ct s , e v e n w i t h a m u s e m e n t a c t i v i t y (e.g. a d a n c i n g - h a l l ) . Th e y are the e l e m e n t s i n t e g r a t i n g c o o p e r a t i v e a n d ru r a l c o m -m u n i t i e s ( h e r -m e t i c and i s o l a t e d in 1 9 5 0 s a n d 1 9 6 0 s f r o m the s o -ci a l e n v i r o n m e n t of the v i l l a g e ) . S e r v i c e s an d ai d of a c o o p e r a t i v e are al s o c o n n e c t e d w i t h the p r o d u c t i o n a c t i v i t y of a g r i c u l t u r a l p o p u l a t i o n of the c o u n t r y -sid e. P r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s - a c c o r d i n g to f a r m e r s - le n d s o m e m a c h i n e s , r e n d e r m e c h a n i z a t i o n and c h e m i z a t i o n s e r v i c e s b e t t e r ,
c h e a p e r a n d at t h e i r c o n v e n i e n c e . T h e y g e n e r a l l y a r e g r e a t c o m -p e t i t o r s of a g r i c u l t u r a l a s s o c i a t i o n s . To s u m up, p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e o p e r a t i n g in P o l a n d are n o t u n i f o r m s t r u c t u r e s as r e g a r d s e c o n o m y , p r o d u c t i o n an d o r g a -n i z a t i o -n b u t a m o n g the m, t h e r e a r e g o o d a g r i c u l t u r a l e s t a b l i s h -m e n t s a c h i e v i n g r e m a r k a b l e e f f e c t s , e n s u r i n g g o o d e c o n o m i c c o n -d i t i o n s to t h e m e m b e r s w h o r e l a t e t h e i r w o r k w i t h th e e f f e c t s of t he " f i r m " a nd i d e n t i f y t h e m s e l v e s w i t h it. T h e s e c o o p e r a t i v e s a re s t r o n g p o t e n t a t e s in the r u r a l m i l i e u in t he r e g i o n of t h e i r a c t i v i t y . The y do n ot c o n s t i t u t e , as it w a s in 1950s , o ne of w e a k e r e l e m e n t s in the s et of r u r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s . P r o d u c t i o n a c t i v i t y of the p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e , w o r k of its m e m b e r s and its e f f e c t s as w e l l as t h e i r s o c i o e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n are c l o s e l y o b s e r v e d by the v i l l a g e r s , e s p e c i a l l y f a r -m e r s , a nd are e v a l u a t e d q u i t e f a i r l y . The y a re the c o o p e r a t i v e s w h o s e o r g a n i z a t i o n of work, p r o d u c t i o n r e s u l t s and d i l i g e n c e of t he s t a f f are a d m i r e d by f a r m e r s . H o w e v e r , t h e y a re still s c e p -t i c a l a b o u -t s o c i a l i z e d f o r m s and -the y a re n o -t l i k e l y -to jo i n an a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e . T h e y a l s o n o t i c e its a d -v a n t a g e s as: w o r k for a d e f i n i t e n u m b e r of h o u r s , le ss a r d u o u s d ue to d i v i s i o n of l a b o u r a n d p o s s i b i l i t y of b e i n g r e p l a c e d , b e t t e r m e c h a n i z a t i o n , fre e time, h o l i d a y s and a n u m b e r of v a -r i o u s s o c i a l b e n e f i t s , -r e g u l a -r e a -r n i n g s . H o w e v e -r , w o -r k on the f a r m is the w o r k "on o n e ' s own" , f or o n e s e l f , and w h a t is m o s t i m p o r t a n t u n d e r o n e ' s own m a n a g e m e n t . A f a r m e r d e t e r m i n e s the t i m e - t a b l e of h is a c t i v i t i e s h i m s e l f , no o ne g i v e s o r d e r s to him. P e a s a n t s ' s e r v i t u d e of m a n y h u n d r e d y e a r s old h as lef t its i m -p r e s s on t h e i r c o n s c i o u s n e s s . I n d e p e n d e n t a c t i v i t y , s e l f - d e p e n d - a n c e on o n e ' s o w n f a r m are the v a l u e s a p p r e c i a t e d b e t t e r tha n a d v a n t a g e s of t e a m wo rk. F a r m e r s of p o o r e r farm s, w i t h a lo w e r g r a d e of the soil, w i t h o u t s u c c e s s o r s are c a t e g o r i e s th a t w o u l d be l i k e l y to j o i n a p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e but they r e a l i z e tha t t h e r e is no p l a c e for t h e m in a w e l l - o r g a n i z e d c o o p e r a t i v e . T he c o o p e r a t i v e s of long t r a d i t i o n t h a t e l a b o r a t e d t h e i r own f o r m s of a c t i v i t y , o p e r a t e on the b a s i s of a g o o d ( q u a l i f i e d and o r d e r l y ) b o d y of w o r k e r s , and t h e y h a v e b r i g h t p r o s p e c t s . The y a re n ot in o p p o s i t i o n to i n d i v i d u a l f a r m e r s , and i n t e n s i f i c a -t i o n of s e r v i c e a c -t i v i -t y for -t he b e n e f i -t of -t h i s c a -t e g o r y can e v e n be o b s e r v e d . F a r m e r s lo o k f o r w a r d to f o r m a l - l e g a l provisions
an d w a r r a n t f or the c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h c o o p e r a t i v e for ms . The e m -p l o y e e s an d o r g a n i z e r s of p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s a re p r e p a r i n g a m e n d m e n t s to the s t a t u t e of th e a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e -r a t i v e , w h e -r e the p r i n c i p l e s of s u c h a c o o p e r a t i o n a r e to be d e -t e r m i n e d . As ca n be s e e n f r o m p r a c t i c e , th e s o c i a l i z e d f o r m of p r o d u c t i o n can, a p a r t f r o m r e a l i z i n g t h e i r f u n d a m e n t a l aim s, c o n -s t i t u t e o n e of i n -s t i t u t i o n -s of the r u r a l l i fe s y s t e m an d ca n p l a y an i m p o r t a n t ro l e in it, r e n d e r i n g m a n y s e r v i c e s fo r the r u r a l m i l i e u 5 . As fo r th e o u t l o o k , g o o d c o o p e r a t i v e s an d p e a s a n t f a r m i n g s t r i v e fo r s y m b i o t i c s y s t e m s , p r o f i t a b l e fo r b o t h s i d e s . A g r i -c u l t u r e -c o o p e r a t i v e s do n ot m e n a c e th e stability of p e a s a n t f a r m s in p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n s , bu t a f f e c t t h e i n c r e a s e in p r o d u c t i v e e f f i c i e n c y on the farm. N o n p r o d u c t i v e a c t i v i t y im pr o v es the s t a n -d a r -d of m e e t i n g e c o n o m i c a n -d s o c i o - c u l t u r a l n e e d s of th e w h o l e r u r a l p o p u l a t i o n . E l ż b i e t a P s y k - P i o t r o w s k a R O L N I C Z E S P Ó Ł D Z I E L N I E P R O D U K C Y J N E W Ś R O D O W I S K U W I E J S K I M T r z y f o r m y p r o d u k c j i r o l n i c z e j w P o l s c e i n d y w i d u a l n e g o s p o -d a r s t w a , P a ń s t w o w e G o s p o d a r s t w a R o l n e (PGR), R o l n i c z e S p ó ł d z i e l -ni e P r o d u k c y j n e (R SP ) n i e o z n a c z a j ą t r z e c h r ó ż n y c h d r ó g z m i a n i p r z e o b r a ż e ń p r o d u k c y j n o e k o n o m i c z n y c h i s p o ł e c z n o k u l t u r o w y c h n a -s ze j w-si. Jak w y n i k a z p r o w a d z o n y c h b a d a ń ( 1 9 8 1 - 1 9 8 5 ) w y s t ę p u j ą c e na t e r e n i e j e d n e j g m i n y r ó ż n e s e k t o r y w m n i e j s z y m cz y w i ę k s z y m z a k r e s i e s t a j ą s i ę w s p ó ł g o s p o d a r z a m i te r e n u . S z c z e g ó l n i e d u ż o d z i a ł a ń na r z e c z ś r o d o w i s k a w i e j s k i e g o p o d e j m u j ą na n i e k t ó r y c h o b s z a r a c h RSP. Są to: w s f e r z e p r o d u k c j i - u s ł u g i m e c h a n i z a c y j - ne i c h e m i z a c y j n e dla r o l n i k ó w i n d y w i d u a l n y c h , n a p r a w y i w y p o ż y -The t h e s e s an d c o n c l u s i o n s p r e s e n t e d in the a r t i c l e h a v e b e e n f o r m u l a t e d on th e b a s i s of t he r e s u l t s of th e s t u d i e s c a r -r i e d ou t by the a u t h o r in th e y e a r s 1 9 8 4 - 1 9 8 5 in s o m e s e l e c t e d a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n c o o p e r a t i v e s in o n e of th e v o i v o d s h i p s in the c e n t r e oi P o l a n d . T h e s e r e s e a r c h e s h a v e b e e n s p o n s o r e d by th e I n s t i t u t e of S o c i o l o g y at th e U n i v e r s i t y of Łó d ź. Th e r e -s u l t -s f r o m t h e -s e e m p i r i c a l -s t u d i e -s c o n n e c t e d w i t h a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n c o - o p e r a t i v e s do no t l e a d to g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s . H o w -e v -e r th-e -e x p -e r i -e n c -e of t h -e s -e -e c o n o m i c a l l y s t r o n g c o - o p e r a t i v e s w h i c h ar e f u n c t i o n a l l y l i n k e d w i t h p e a s a n t v i l l a g e c o m m u n i t y ca n be p a t t e r n s fo r the s i m i l a r t y p e of c o - o p e r a t i v e s .
c z a n i e s p r z ę t u r o l n i c z e g o ; i n w e s t o w a n i e i w y k o n a w s t w o w z a k r e s i e u r z ą d z e ń k o m u n a l n y c h d l a w s i - b u d o w a dr ó g , w o d o c i ą g ó w , o c z y -s z c z a l n i ś c i e k ó w , s z k ó ł i i n n y c h o b i e k t ó w ; u d o s t ę p n i a n i e własnych u r z ą d z e ń ( p r z e d s z k o l a , ś w i e t l i c e , s a l e ) s z e r s z e m u o g ó ł o w i dla ce-l ó w s o c j a ce-l n y c h o r a z r o z r y w k o w o - k u l t u r a l n y c h itp. A k t y w n o ś ć p r o d u k c y j n a s i l n y c h e k o n o m i c z n i e RSP, j a k i ich d z i a ł a l n o ś ć d l a ś r o d o w i s k a g m i n n e g o o c e n i a n a j e s t p r z e z r o l n i k ó w i n d y w i d u a l n y c h z t e r e n u , na k t ó r y m d z i a ł a j ą p o z y t y w n i e . M i m o to, ci s a m i r o l n i c y , d l a k t ó r y c h " i c h " R S P j e s t w z o r e m , z d e c y d o w a n i e p r z e c i w n i są r o z s z e r z a n i u f o r m y s p ó ł d z i e l c z o ś c i p r o d u k c y j n e j na w i ę k s z ą s k a l ę .
