FARMERS’ WIVES’ ASSOCIATION IN THE CONCEPT OF NEO-ENDOGENOUS DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS

Abstract

Farmers’ Wives’ Association are the most popular form of women’s self-organization in rural areas with a long tradition dating back to the 19th century. The aim of the presented research was to seek an answer to the question of what motives guide people joining Farmers’ Wives’ Associations and what factors influence their functioning. The concept of neo-endogenous development, based on the use of endogenous (local) resources to acquire exogenous (external) resources, is presented. Neo-endogenous mechanisms allow for better identification of development needs and targeted involvement of external resources in meeting them. The basis of these mechanisms is local social capital concentrated, for example, in the village housewives’ circles. A survey was conducted using a custom survey questionnaire, created on the ProfiTest platform. 52 Associations correctly completed the questionnaire. For today’s Farmers’ Wives’ Association, the most important activities are those aimed at the development of localities and the cultivation of local and regional culture. In the aspect of neo-endogenous development, it is important to emphasize the influence of both endogenous and exogenous (the possibility of raising funds) factors on the significant increase in the interest of local communities in this form of cooperation.