Introduction
The following is the text of the letter that accompanied the research questionnaires sent to local informants.
The FAO European Commission on Agriculture and its Working Party on Women and the Agricultural Family in Rural Development have requested the FAO Secretariat to collect data on the Socio-economic situation and status of rural women in selected Central and Eastern European countries.
The preparation of the study and collection of data entrusted to the University of Helsinki, Mikkeli Institute for Rural Research and Training. Each participating country (Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) has nominated "focal informants" (national counterparts) in charge of collecting valid and reliable data for the preparation of the study.
The final questionnaire is enclosed. It would be appreciated if you could answer the questions as precisely as possible. In addition a short description of your country, its agriculture, its rural areas and the role and status of women will be required.
Could you please return the completed questionnaire and country descriptions no later than I May 1994 to the Mikkeli Institute for Rural Research and Training. Should you require clarification on any point please contact me (tel. +358 55 202 3301).
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Pirjo Siiskonen
Director, Ph. D.
University of Helsinki
Mikkeli Institute for Rural Research and Training
Lonurotinkatu 3-5
FIN-50100 Mikkeli
Finland
Socio-economic situation and status of rural women in selected Central and Eastern European countries
Part 1 General statistical information
To answer the following questions, the definition of rural areas is needed. The definition of rural areas and rural population varies in different countries. What is the definition of rural areas in your country?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Please use this definition when you answer the following questions.
1. The population of the whole country, persons (from censuses of 1970/-71, 1980/-81, 1990/-91)
All |
Men |
Women | |
1970 |
|||
1980 |
|||
1990 |
The population of rural areas, persons (from censuses of 1970/1971, 1980/1981, 1990/1991)
All |
Men |
Women | |
1970 |
|||
1980 |
|||
1990 |
2. Age structure of the whole country in 1990/-91, persons
All |
Men |
Women | |
0-14 years |
|||
15-64 years |
|||
65 and over |
|||
Total |
Age structure of rural areas in 1990/-91, persons
All |
Men |
Women | |
0-14 years |
|||
15-64 years |
|||
65 and over |
|||
Total |
3. Education level of women and men in rural and urban areas in 1990/-91 (from census 1990/-91)
Education level |
Rural areas |
Urban areas |
Whole country | |||
Men |
Women |
Men |
Women |
Men |
Women | |
Low (elementary school or below) |
||||||
Medium |
||||||
High (high school or university) |
||||||
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
4. The percentage of illiterate people in rural and urban areas in 1990/-91?
Rural areas |
Urban areas |
Whole country |
5. Migration from cities to rural areas in 1990/-91, persons
Description of the migration _________________________________________
6. Migration from rural areas to cities in 1990/-91, persons
Description of the migration ________________________________________
7. Who migrated from rural areas to cities during the last intercensus period?
1 More men than women.
2 Men and women alike.
3 More women than men.
4 No migration from rural areas to cities.
8. Desribe the majority of women migrants (from rural areas to cities).
a) 1 Young (<303 |
b) 1 Married |
c) 1 Educated |
||||
2 Middle-aged (30-60) |
2 Unmarried |
2 |
Uneducated | |||
3 Old (>60) |
9. Employment situation in 1993, persons
Whole country |
Rural areas |
Agriculture | ||||
Employed |
Unemployed % |
Employed |
Unemployed % |
Employed |
Unemployed % | |
Men |
||||||
Women |
||||||
Total |
10. Size of the agricultural labour force and its proportion of the entire economically active population in 1991 _____________________________________________
11. Percentage of women in the economically active labour force in agriculture 1991
Description ______________________________________________________
12. a) Definition of a family farm in your country
______________________________________________________
b) Definition of a cooperative farm in your country
______________________________________________________
c) Definition of a state farm in your country
______________________________________________________
13. Landownership and cultivation in 1993 (in numbers)
Number of holdings |
Average size |
Number of people |
Number of men |
Number of women |
Cultivated land. % |
Arable land and gardens % |
Forest areas. % |
Share of commercial production. % | |
1. Private family farms |
|||||||||
2. State farms |
|||||||||
3. Farms owned by cooperatives |
|||||||||
- A |
|||||||||
- B |
|||||||||
- C |
|||||||||
4. Shareholding farms |
|||||||||
5. Farms owned by churches |
|||||||||
5. School farms |
|||||||||
6. Others |
|||||||||
100 % |
100 % |
100 % |
|||||||
A Landowners who are members of cooperatives | |||||||||
B Landowners who are not members of cooperatives but rent land to cooperatives | |||||||||
C Members of cooperatives who are not landownership (workers) |
14. Number of women and men in agriculture (including forestry and fishery) in 1990/-91
Men |
Women |
Total | |
Private farmers (owners who work on the farm) |
|||
Agricultural workers |
|||
Private landowners (owners who don't work on the farm) |
|||
Cooperative shareholders |
|||
Household plot owners |
15. How common is the paid labour of rural women?
Common |
Exists |
Rarely exists | |
Full-time work |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Part-time work |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Seasonal work |
1 |
2 |
3 |
16. In what kind of paid labour are rural women mainly involved?
_________________________________________________________________
17. The wage level of rural women working in agriculture for work of equal value compared to the wage level of
Lower |
Equal |
Higher | |
Men in agriculture |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Women in other sectors of the economy in rural areas |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Urban women |
1 |
2 |
3 |
18. Birth rate in your country for 1990/-91 ________
19. Infant mortality rate for 1990/-91
In your country _______________
In rural areas ________________
20. Life expectancy at birth in 1990/-91
Male ____________ years
Female __________ years
21. What is the average family size (from census of 1990/-91)?
In the country
In rural areas
In farming families
22. What is the average number of children in families (from census of 1990/-91)?
In the country ___________
In urban areas __________
In rural areas ___________
23. What is the average marrying age?
Whole country |
Rural areas | ||
Men |
Women |
Men |
Women |
24. What is the divorce rate?
Whole country |
Rural areas |
Part 2 Women's role on the farm and in the family
1. Women's role in relation to the farm/holding/enterprise
Very common |
Common |
Sometimes |
Seldom |
Not possible | |
Woman owns a family farm alone |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Woman and man own the farm together |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Man owns a family farm alone |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Woman works on the farm |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Both work on the farm |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Man works on the farm and woman outside the farm in paid labour |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Wife works on the farm and man outside the farm in paid labour |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Woman has entrepreneurial/business activities on the farm |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Man has entrepreneurial/business activities on the farm |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Woman has seasonal work on cooperative farms |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Woman has all year work on cooperative farms |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Woman has seasonal work on state farms |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Woman has all year work on state farms |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
2. The proportion of family farms managed by women
________________________________________________________-
3. Women's role inside the family
Division of labour between men and women on family farms
Men only |
Mainly men |
Both |
Mainly women |
Women only | |
sometimes women |
sometimes men | ||||
Mechanical fieldwork |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Manual fieldwork |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Forest work |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Farm management |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Account keeping |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Milking the cows |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Tending the cattle |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Tending pigs |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Tending poultry |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Tending horses |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Tending sheep |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Decision-making in farming |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Decision-making in the household |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Processing agricultural products |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Marketing the products |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Household work |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Infant care |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Child care |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Work in the garden |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Entrepreneurial activities |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Paid labour |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
4. Division of labour between men and women on co-operative farms
Men only |
Mainly men |
Both |
Mainly women |
Women only | |
sometimes women |
sometimes men | ||||
Mechanical fieldwork |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Manual fieldwork |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Forest work |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Farm management |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Account keeping |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Milking the cows |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Tending the cattle |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Tending pigs |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Tending poultry |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Tending horses |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Tending sheep |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Decision-making |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Processing agricultural products |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Marketing the products |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Entrepreneurial activities |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Part 3 Women's participation in education, agricultural services and organizations
1. What kind of schools or institutions do you have (length of schooling, access for girls)
a) In agriculture
_______________________________
b) In home economics
_______________________________
c) In rural entrepreneurship
_______________________________
d) In adult education and training
_______________________________
2. Do you have any schooling in home economics in primary school?
1. Yes, for both girls and boys.
2 Yes, only for girls.
3 Not at all.
3. What are the percieved educational needs of rural women in relation to
Agricultural technology ________________________________
Home-economics ____________________________________
Nutrition ___________________________________________
Entrepreneurship ____________________________________
Planning/management/ decision-making __________________
Financing __________________________________________
Leadership _________________________________________
4. What kind of adult training for rural women is needed in the near future?
_________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
5. Do you have agricultural extension or advisory services in your country?
1. Yes, which subjects are covered?
_______________________________________
2 No
6. Do you have extension or advisory services which cover home management, consumerism and home economics in your country?
1. Yes, which subjects are covered?
________________________________________
2 No
7. Extension service organizations for farm families
Do not |
Exist |
Satisfactory |
Inactive |
Activities also directed towards women | |
exist |
|||||
Public advisory services |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Private advisory services |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Counseling services in agriculture |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Non-agricultural counseling services |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
8. Extension workers
Are there extension workers in
1 Agriculture
2 Horticulture
3 Viticulture
4 Home economics
5 Environment
6 Agritourism
7 Rural entrepreneurship
8 Something else, what? _________________________
Are the extension workers
1 Mainly men
2 Mainly women
3 Both
9. Farmers' interest groups
Do not exist |
Exist |
Function actively |
Women's membership |
Activities also towards women | |
Farmers' Union |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Some other organizations, name/names |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
3 4 |
5 |
||
1 |
2 |
3 4 |
5 |
10. In which of the following organizations in your country can women participate?
Do not exist |
Exist |
Started, year |
Satisfactory |
Unsatisfactory | |
Educational organizations |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | |
Advisory organizations |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | |
Extension organizations |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | |
Producers' organizations |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | |
Marketing organizations |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | |
Interest groups, unions |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
11. Women's participation and representation in public life
Men only |
Mainly men |
Men and women |
Mainly women |
Women only |
Women as members only |
Women as leaders | |
Village boards |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Municipal boards |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Cooperative boards |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Church |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Local government |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
National government |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Part 4 Household technology
1. Accommodation and rural families
Average size of rural dwellings
Average area (in square metres) per person in rural dwellings
Average number of rooms in rural dwellings
2. Rural dwellings and tenure status
Often |
Sometimes |
Rarely | |
Owner-occupied |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Rented |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Owned by parents |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Other |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3. Level of household technology
If possible, give the percentages of all the households, if not, use words common, sometimes, rare, none.
Rural areas |
Urban areas |
Whole country | |
Stove/cooker |
|||
Sewage |
|||
Piped cold water |
|||
Piped hot water |
|||
WC |
|||
Bathroom/shower |
|||
Refrigerator |
|||
Freezer |
|||
Washing machine |
|||
Dishwasher |
|||
Radio |
|||
TV |
|||
Telephone |
|||
Central heating |
|||
Electricity |
|||
Car |
4. Nutrition
What is the nutritional level of rural people?
1 Satisfactory
2 There are some problems
3 Unsatisfactory, main problems
Part 5 Social security and legal issues
1. National health care system
Are health services available for the rural population in villages?
No |
Yes |
Public |
Private | |
District hospital |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Health centre |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Private clinic |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Family doctor |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Dentist |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
School health services |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Child health centers |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Maternity clinics |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Pharmacy |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Others |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2. What are the main problems in the national health care system for the rural population? ______________________________________
3. Social services
Are social services provided for the rural population by
1. Family
2. Neighborhood
3. Voluntary organizations
4. Church
5. Municipalities
6. State
7. Insurance companies
8. Other firms
9. Others
No |
Yes |
If yes, by which provider | |||||||||
Maternity leave |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Child day care services |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Old people's homes |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Home help for elderly people |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Employment service |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Farm/home relief services |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
4. Are social security benefits provided for the rural population by
1. Family
2. Neighborhood
3. Voluntary organizations
4. Church
5. Municipalities
6. State
7. Insurance companies
8. Other firms
9. Others
No |
Yes |
If yes, by which provider | |||||||||
Maternity benefits |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Child support benefit |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Home care allowance |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Unemployment benefit |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Accident insurance |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Disability pension |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
National pension |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Employment pension |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Pensions paid on transfer of a farm to a successor |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Pensions for older people |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
5. What social benefits (if any) did women gain during the latest social changes in your country?
______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
6. What social benefits (if any) did women lose during the latest social changes in your country?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
7. Is abortion legalized in your country?
1 Yes
2 No
8. Can women own, sell, purchase and inherit land?
Yes, according to law and in practice |
Yes, according to law, sometimes in practice |
Perhaps, law allows, but not common in practice |
Perhaps, there is no practice |
Not allowed law, rare in | |
Own |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Sell |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Inherit |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Purchase |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
Rent |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
9. Is there any legislation to ensure the equal status of women in your country in relation to the following issues?
Does not exist |
Exists |
Problems in implementation | |
1 |
Succession and inheritance |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Social security protection |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Right to get credit |
1 |
2 |
4 |
Tax laws, taxation |
1 |
2 |
5 |
Farm/home relief services |
1 |
2 |
6 |
Labour legislation |
1 |
2 |
7 |
Entrepreneurship/business on the farm |
1 |
2 |
8 |
Land reform |
1 |
2 |
9 |
Subsidies |
1 |
2 |
10 |
Voting rights |
1 |
2 |
11 |
Access to education |
1 |
2 |
12 |
Equal opportunities in work |
1 |
2 |
13 |
Equal pay for equal work |
1 |
2 |
10. Are there other inequalities between sexes in your country?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Part 6 Research projects and development programmes on rural women
1. Are any research activities on rural women going on in your country?
1 Yes, name of the project/projects
____________________________________________
2 Main findings of the project/projects
____________________________________________
2. Are any special programmes for rural women being implemented by ministries or some organizations/agencies in your country?
1 Yes, name and short description of the objectives of the programme/programmes
____________________________________________
2 No
____________________________________________
3. What are the special problems of rural women in your country?
____________________________________________
4. What are the priority needs of rural women in your country?
____________________________________________
5. What kind of issues would help young girls to stay in the countryside?
____________________________________________
6. Research publications on rural women in your country since 1980:
____________________________________________