CONDITIONS AND ASSESSMENT OF ADEQUACY OF SUPPORTING AGRICULTURE IN POLISH CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS

Agricultural activities are an indispensable element of landscape development. They play a particularly important role in areas valuable in terms of nature, including mountainous areas. The Carpathian village and agricultural holdings demonstrate a high level of economic viability and a high economic activity, however, support is required for agricultural activities performed in difficult natural conditions. Due to the fact that inhabitants of the Polish Carpathian Mountains are very attached to their land, place of living as well as tradition and culture of the region, recessive processes pertaining to the durability of village and agriculture are slower than in other parts of Poland. However, the absence of firm aid activities protecting these areas may soon lead to the rapid acceleration of recessive phenomena. EU’s economic policy applied to rural areas and agriculture will materially impact the speed and directions of the processes, including addressing problem areas and additional solutions applied domestically. The purpose of the study was to assess and propose modifications of the system of support to agriculture in mountainous areas, including, in particular in the area of the Polish Carpathian Mountains. Solutions proposed in the summary should be broadly discussed which would allow their implementation as part of the new period of programming the CAP.