This study targets social capital development possibilities in the rural territories of Latvia, and focuses on its inhabitants' public activities. Private property was restored more than 10 years ago, and since then the number of public organisations has sharply increased. These organisations offer the chance to solve several problems. The social capital potential of the rural population is substantially affected by historical developments in the country. The owners of farms in the Zemgale region were questioned within the framework of this study. According to the survey results, only one third of them are involved in public organisations. Generally, these organisations are connected with farmers’ professional activities; there are relationships between participation in such organisations and respondents' opinion on the efficiency of their economic activity. In rural areas, elements of different means of increasing social capital are left unused.