DIRECT SALES IN AGRICULTURE

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to analyze the conditions of direct sales in agriculture. The scope of the survey included surveys conducted on 54 agricultural producers in 2016 from the territory of three voivodships: Mazowieckie, Podlaskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie. On the basis of the conducted research, the factors determining direct sales in agricultural enterprises and their influence on the analysed process were identified. Farmers are increasingly looking for alternative forms of sale to sell agricultural products. The main reasons why agricultural producers do not engage in activities in the form of direct sales are poor regulation for farmers, a lack of knowledge and ability to interpret the rules, and high transport costs. Nearly 40% of respondents indicated direct sales as the main source of income in agriculture. The importance of direct sales is growing and represents a fairly important source of revenue. In the future, with appropriate legal conditions and a slightly changed form, it may become more important for the development of agriculture and rural entrepreneurship, as well as an additional or in some cases the basic source of income for agricultural producers.