Przekształcenia struktury obszarowej gospodarstw na przykładzie województw gorzowskiego i zielonogórskiego

The article presents changes that occurred in the period of 1989-1994 in an area pattern of individual farms in operation in Gorzów and Zielona Góra provinces. The surveys covered 101 farms. Acti vity of farmers in respect of changes within the area pattern of farms run by them depends on many factors. These can be the following factors: economic strength of a farm and its character, age and personal characteristics of managers. First of all, the farms already being bigger in terms of area (in excess of 15 ha) increase their area. In the period of 1989-1994, 75% of farms in this group increased their area. Concentration of land within big farms occurs in result of such processes. The population exploiting smaller farms in terms of area (below 5 ha) is not much interested in agricultural production. There is the biggest share of farms in this area group that have decreased their area as well as those which want to retire from agriculture. Non-agricultural jobs are the main source of income of small farm owners. The result of changes under way is greater and greater productive and economic stratification of farms and polarisation of their area structure.