THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE PROCESS OF DIVERSIFICATION OF FARMS

The article presents the results of research that covered farms engaging in agro-tourist services in Zachodniopomorskie voivodeship. These were farms run by women. Analysed were the motives for launching agro-tourist activities in the context of the families' structure and situation. Also discussed were the qualifications of women conducting agro-tourist activities and methods of advertising agro-tourist services preferred by the surveyed women. In order to define the standard of the rendered agro-tourist services some elements of the farms' offer and plans in this respect were analysed and investments made by the farms prior to the launching of agro-tourist services were examined. On the basis of conducted research conclusions have been formulated which show that the operation of agro-tourist establishments run by women requires support in the form of consulting and external financing.