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Abstract
In Poland, farmers rely primarily on cooperative
banks for agricultural credit. Therefore, the paper
attempt is to examine the impact of agricultural credits
disbursed by the cooperative banks on regional
development of agricultural sector in Poland over 1997-
2006. Sources of data include financial statements of the
banks (1373 observations) providing credit-related
information and sectoral background data for
agriculture from Central Statistical Office of Poland.
The levels of agricultural development were assessed
using a nation-level and regional-level composite
indicators constructed by the author by the use of factor
analysis. Additionally, one-factor ANOVA, Pearson
correlations and linear regression were applied. There
was found, that the most prosperous agricultural regions
include wielkopolskie, zachodniopomorskie and
warminsko-mazurskie, the least prosperous malopolskie,
podkarpackie, slaskie and swietokrzyskie voivodships.
Results of econometric analysis suggest also that region
of bank’s activity has statistically significant impact
both on agricultural credit and agricultural
development levels. In Poland as a whole, farm credits
provided by cooperative banks stimulate development of
agriculture but only in two of sixteen regions
(voivodships) their impact was positive and statistically
significant. The average farm size and agricultural
employment were found to be strongest in influencing
agricultural development.