Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2010, 56(6):266-283 | DOI: 10.17221/103/2009-AGRICECON

Determinants of farmers' trust in government agricultural agencies in Poland

Aldona ZAWOJSKA
Department of Economics and Economic Policy, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland

The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of farmers' trust toward state agricultural agencies in Poland, to identify its determinants and to develop a model illustrating the relationship between trust and the different dimensions of the agencies performance. Specifically this study looks at two agencies: the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture and the Agricultural Market Agency. Data were obtained from responses to a set of questions asked of the nationwide sample of 200 Polish farmers in December 2006-January 2007. The farmers' evaluations according to a range of statements about the agencies were measured using ten-point Likert scale. Partial Least Squares Path Modelling was employed to estimate the latent (theoretical) variables such as trust, image, performance, satisfaction etc. Additionally, descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages and means as well as correlation coefficients were applied. Evidence is presented that the trust of farmers in the institutions of state, represented here by two agricultural agencies, is statistically correlated with the image of the agencies, respondents' expectations and their satisfaction about the way the agencies work as well as with perceived value of the services and programmes provided by the agencies. Farmer's socio-economic characteristics (gender, education, the period of their interaction with the agencies, farm size) did not relate to trust score with the exception of age. Causality analysis showed that trust towards both agencies was significantly impacted by their image with the customers. Trust had significant impact on the overall satisfaction with the ARMA.

Keywords: trust, image, satisfaction, perception, government agency, farmers, Poland

Published: June 30, 2010  Show citation

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ZAWOJSKA A. Determinants of farmers' trust in government agricultural agencies in Poland. Agric. Econ. - Czech. 2010;56(6):266-283. doi: 10.17221/103/2009-AGRICECON.
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