The use of sources of information professional for rural residents

Abstract

The article presents sources and a scope of professional information which was researched by Polish and British village citizens as well as a comparative analysis of the preferences of both groups in the study area. The empirical research was conducted in November and December 2015 among 147 farmers and agriculture-related living in Poland and among 76 farmers and agriculture-related living in the UK. The results of the comparative analysis show that the source of expert information for both groups were mostly websites of the manufacturers and distributors of agricultural inputs (almost ¾ of responses) and agricultural magazines (over ⅔ responses). In order to solve professional problems Poles more often than the Brits used the social media as well as used state consultants, but the British used private advisory services more frequently than the Polish. In both countries, respondents were interested in a variety of information on agriculture and environment. However, British respondents paid more attention to the innovation aspect of agriculture than Polish citizens from the countryside, while the Poles were more interested in the agricultural production than those polled in the UK.