Socio-economic Analysis

This project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE Programmeco-financedbythe ERDF.

SUMMARY OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

Promoting traditional collection and use of Wild plants

to reduce social and economic disparities

in Central Europe.

BRNO, October 2012


Socio-economic analysis

Socio – economic analysis is a broad concept, which covers several different types of analysis. The

analysis is a basic overview of the social, demographic and economic indicators, which affect lives of

people in a community or in a region. This is a summary and a comparison of individual components

with higher territorial administrative units or neighbouring regions. The most important components

of regional development in a municipality are number of population and households, local economy,

administration and tourism, transport accessibility and technical infrastructure and impact on the

environment. Data collection consists of data from official databases, from local authorities,

stakeholders, local or central libraries, museums, internet and other databases. The availability of

data can be decisive for the quality and design of the socio - economic analysis.

There are four countries connected with the project Traditional and wild. These are Hungary,

Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. Subsequently areas were selected for the socio-economic

analysis in each of these countries. The selected area of PP3 is situated in the Great Hungarian Plain

in Hungary and a village of Kunadacs is the chosen place. Also the second region is located in

Hungary. The selected territory of PP4 is in the Baranya Region. There are 11 settlements in the

Ormánság District. The target area of PP5 is situated on Kolbuszowa Plateau in Poland and this

territory includes 10 villages. The selected area of PP6 is situated in regions of Kozjansko and

Dravinjsko in Slovenia. There were chosen 7 municipalities. The selected territory of PP7 is in on

Banjšice and Trnovo Plateau in Slovenia and this territory includes 14 chosen villages. The last chosen

area of PP8 is situated in the South Moravian Region in the Czech Republic. There were selected

4 micro-regions and 2 villages in each of these regions.

The following paper deals with a general evaluation of all individual socio-economic analysis. We

can use only a simple general comparison for all countries, because the provided data were in a

different quality and a different scale. Moreover, each of these selected regions is unique, specific

and has different conditions of development. It is better to study them separately.

Demography

The population decrease is a general trend in each of the selected areas. Not only young people look

for a job outside their homes, sometimes they seek jobs abroad. Educated people are leaving as well.

For example the population has decreased by half in the last 50 years in some selected areas in

Slovenia. The age structure of population is formed by long-term development of fertility, mortality

and migration in each population. All selected regions show symptoms of aging. The proportion of

older people is increasing and the proportion of the births is decreasing.


The educational structure of inhabitants is diverse in the individual target regions. Centres of

these regions show higher educational attainment. Reasons of this problem are varied. We can find

one good reason in the village of Kunadacs in Hungary. Two-thirds of the population have only

primary school education there. The historical reason is that the current older generation had to

work in fields instead of going to school, when they were children. The half of inhabitants has

vocational or secondary education on Banjšice – Trnovo Plateau. On the other side, in Slovenia is

bigger share of inhabitants with university education than on Trnovo – Banjšice Plateau. These

differences are not extremely high, so the education does not represent the most important obstacle

to the development of this area.

Compared to the total population, the number of inhabitants belonging to national minorities is

insignificant in the target areas. The territory of PP4 is one exception. Nearly one-fifth of the

population identified themselves as a member of a minority during census of year 2001. The Roma

have the largest number in the area, their proportion of the population is close to 7% there. The

highest concentration of the Roma is in Gilvánfa, where 71.2 % of the population identified

themselves as belonging to the Roma ethnic group. The 2011 census figures are not known yet, but it

is likely the proportion of the Roma population has increased in the Ormánság Region. The presence

of minorities is well represented (particularly an ability of lobbying) by the presence of minority in a

self-government in settlements.

We can find some interesting ethnic groups in Poland. They are the Lasowiaks and the

Rzeszowiaks. The Lasowiaks are an ethnic group, which was formed as a result assimilation of

different nations living between valleys of rivers San and Vistula. The Mazovians, the western

Małopolans, the Russians, the Turkish, the Scotsmen, the Germans, the Ruthenians and the

Wallachia people lived among them. Interaction among them and assimilation of these nationalities

contributed to create a separate community. They dealt with forestry, hunting, apiculture, and

producing of charcoal. The Rzeszowiaks were treated as an ethnic group after the World War II. In

the beginning of the 20th century they had their own folk costume, craft and dialect. This community

was very resourceful and economical. They were quite wealthy thanks to fertile soils, agriculture and

a breeding of livestock. The latest survey shows that only 6 have registered out of 130 people to the

Lasowiaks group.

Economy

The economy of the target areas has been connected to agriculture. The economy is based on

agriculture and a sector of services in the area of Kundanacs. There are no industrial companies.

There are high quality soils in surroundings. A tobacco production has a history of at least 30 years in


the village. In the past, most land owners made their living by the tobacco production. Today, the

tobacco growing is less popular among farmers, mainly due to the decreasing of purchase prices.

Instead, paprika and green pepper growing has increased considerably, which give a safe job for a lot

of farmers. People cultivate vegetable and fruit. Animal breeding, mainly of poultry and pigs, is also

typical, mostly for self-supply. There are some kinds of farm animals in around one half of

households. The region has a long tradition of markets and fairs.

Industrial production is not important, but is has been connected to agricultural production for

example through the production of pesticides in the area of PP4, but most of these industrial and

agricultural enterprises are closed or collapsed due to the transformation to the market economy.

A number of traditional agricultural enterprises went bankrupt even before the transformation there.

Currently the unemployment is caused by lack of investors, who would be ready to create some

new job opportunities in the region of PP5. There is partially disrupted the system of education for

requirement of a labour market.

Agriculture is very important in the area of PP6. The agricultural areas constitute over half of all

the land in use (53%). The companies employ mostly local workers in the area, but recently there has

been an increase of numbers of workers from other EU countries and Southeast Europe. The key

employers are still large companies. Unemployed women represent 55.7% of all unemployed people,

which is above the Slovenian average (53.7%). It is reflected, that women have difficulties in finding

employment. The main problems represent those, who have only primary or no education because

they have more difficulties to find a job.

In the past, majority of the population survived in agriculture in the target area of PP7, mainly

livestock breeding and forestry. People have developed a wide range of complementary activities for

own use or for sale, which derived from raw materials and energy resources present on the Plateau.

In the last ten years there has been a proliferation of complementary activities in rural areas,

particularly farm tourism. These complementary activities represent an element for economic

growth on farms. There are two significant reasons for development of complementary activities on

farms: awareness of farmers that there is a need to develop an interesting, market oriented offer on

farm and the possibility of obtaining grants from the Rural Development Programme. Big

fragmentation of property is an unfavourable structural feature, which is reflected in a large number

of small parcels, cultivated by individual farms. Agricultural farms are too small to be able to provide

sufficient income only from agriculture, so the region is dominated by “mixed” farms (i.e. people are

working on farms and as employees in companies). The consequences of fragmentation of property

are also reflected in the social, economic and production structure. Because of these reasons, the

productivity of agriculture farms is lower than it would be in the case of concentration of land

possession.


The unemployment rate in areas PP8 is generally higher than the national average shows. Three

years ago, the Vranov micro-region showed the highest unemployment and also the highest

sensitivity to the critical development. The situation here was improved to the level of Horňácko in

the last time. The Velké Opatovice microregion and the Nedvědice microregion are in a better

situation. Selected regions are really problematic as concerns the relations to the national average.

Inner periphery (Nedvědice and Velké Opatovice microregions) are less problematic. On the other

side, the assistance which could be provided especially to these microregions could be the most

efficient, because the mentioned microregions apparently dispose with inner sources which could

ensure the continuation of activities also after finishing the support from outside. It is questionable in

the case of the borderland micro-regions. The economy of the Malá Haná microregion is based on

agro-industrial character (good soils), production of refractory goods, glassworks. The economy of

the Nedvědice microregion is based on industries (electronic, food, paper), which are concentrated

out of the micro-region in towns Tišnov, Kuřim, Brno. The economy of the Horňácko microregion is

based on industry (production of geo-textile). The economy of the Vranov nad Dyjí microregion

includes undeveloped industry (only some SMEs).

Tourist potential

In the most cases, the tourist potential is based on friendly environmental conditions in the selected

areas. It includes a pure nature of protected areas, natural landscapes, diverse fauna and flora,

hiking, cycling, agritourism, educational trails, some historical monuments. Some tourist tracks give

possibilities to all year round activities. These are cycling, trekking and horse riding in summer, cross

country skiing in winter.

Collection and use of plants and herbs

The village of Kunadacs does not have any traditional local product, but a lot of people make their

living by growing plants which – after processed elsewhere – are marketed by multinational

companies. These include paprika and green pepper, and tobacco.

A collection and use of wild plants had a long tradition in the territory of PP4. It included an

associated processing, utilization and therapeutic methods. Today, the most part of these traditions

have been forgotten, the existing knowledge is passive and disappears from the public awareness

slowly. A volume of the herbal industry shows, that it does not play too big role in the regional

economy, minimum working opportunity is provided for locals, spite of it, that the natural conditions

would be suitable for this. In the region, common herbs are collected: stinging nettle (Urtica dioica),

yarrow (Achillea millefolium), shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), small-flowered willowherb


(Epilobium parviflorum), agneweed (Eupatorium cannabinum), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), Goat

(Galega officinalis), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ), hawthorn (Crategus monogyna), elderberry

(Sambucus nigra), goldenrod Herb (Solidago gigantea; canadensis), dewberry (Rubus caesius), rose

hips (Rosa canina), goose-grass (Galium aparine), wild chicory (Cichorium intybus) horsetail

(Equisetum arvense), celandine (Chelidonium majus), woodruff (Galium odoratum), marshmallow /

marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), walnut leaf (Yuglans regia), willow (Salix spp.), linden (Tilia spp. ).

Traditional use of herbs, fruit and fungus on the Plateau of Banjšice and Trnovo includes a

paucity of literature about use of herbs, fruits and fungus in the region. The collecting, cultivating and

storing of herbs was exclusively the domain of women there. The list of the medicinal plants used in

popular tradition include arnica (Arnica montana), valerian (Valeriana officinalis), elderberry

(Sambucus nigra), blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), juniper (Juniperus communis), pumpkin

(Cucurbita pepo), onions (Allium cepa), garlic (Allium sativum), barberry (Berberis vulgaris), black

mint, hawthorn (Crataegus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), horse radish (Armoracia rusticana), anise

(Pimpinella anisum), fir (Abies sp.), chamomile (Matricaria recutita), calamus (Acorus calamus),

nettle (Urtica dioica), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), celandine (Ranunculus sp.), cumin (Cuminum

cyminum), flax (Linum usitatissimum), coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), linden (Tilia sp.), lovage

(Levisticum officinale), larch (Larix sp.), daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), lemon balm (Melissa

officinalis), common mallow (Malva neglecta), house-leek (Sempervivum tectorum), horsetail

(Equisetum arvense), calendula (Calendula officinalis), nuts, oat (Avena sativa), wormwood

(Artemisia absinthium), parsley (Petroselinum hortense), Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris),

lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis), peppermint, fern (Dryopteris filix-mas), red beet (Beta vulgaris var.

Vulgaris), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), mallow (Malva sylvestris),

eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis), pine tree, ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), St. John's wort

(Hypericum perforatum), centaury (Centaurium erythraea), great plantain (Plantago major), rose

(Rosa sp.), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), goldenrod (Solidago sp.), sage (Salvia officinalis).

People from the Czech Republic have very positive attitude to collection of wild plants and they

would like to know more new information about it. The most popular recipes for homemade

products are honey of dandelions, syrup of plantain or of elderflower, stuffing and spinach of nettle

and rosehip tea. There is one local product in the South Moravian Region, in the Horňácko

microregion. It is an herbal tea. The herbs are collected by volunteers on the meadows of Horňácko.

The used herbs are primrose, oregano, linden and blackberry. This tea (which is not mass-produced)

is necessary to drink cold.


Conclusions

The population of the target areas is ageing, which may give negative prospects for the future (e.g.

schools may need to be closed). To make the younger generations stay and live in the villages should

be one of the most important aims. To obtain financial resources for creating new jobs, housing, and

entertainment facilities for the young is the asked pre-supposition. We found a difference in a

motivation of people to collect wild plants. Some regions do not play any role in this project, but the

collection of wild medicinal plants is a daily practice in other areas. The existing research shows, that

in the regions, where the traditions are preserved, there is a strengthened regional identity among

people. It leads to the establishment of local communities. Then these groups are able to organize

various regional events, which contribute to the visibility of the region. Based on attendance of these

events financial support (for example in form of voluntary admission or buying local products) begins

to generate in the region.

The statistical data are hardly comparable. The population aging is most expressive in Czechia

and the unemployment rate as well. The educational structure is lower than the national averages in

all the cases. The indicator of education seems to be the best for defining peripheral areas. Czech

agriculture is based on large farms whereas small farms prevail in Slovenia and Poland. Agritourism is

better developed in Slovenia. Frequency of public transport in countries under comparison is the best

in Czechia. Development of industries is similar.

There are following criteria recommended to identify of peripheries: distance from regional

centres, share of population with higher education (compared to the core of the settlement system).

Periphery is a natural consequence of the concept core – periphery. Tourism is considered to be the

most prospective branch on the periphery as a rule, but also other branches should be developed:

agriculture, forestry, industries, services, energy production from alternative sources etc. It follows

from the Czech cases that the perception of the plant collection does not depend on the level of

peripherality and social exclusion but more on the social cohesion, e.g. Vranov micro-region with the

worst values of social indicators together with Nedvědice micro-region with the best ones show the

lowest social inclusion whereas Horňácko is the best.

Important conditions for a building of a social cohesion are needed: material conditions

(employment, income, health, education and housing), social order, safety, freedom, tolerance,

positive interactions and networks, active social relations (including traditions, club activities), social

inclusion or integration into the mainstream institutions, social equality or fairness in access to

opportunities.

Documents

Socio-economic Analysis