Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

MOSCOWJune 5, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing how many Russians have got countryside houses; what they basically do at their dachas ; and what dacha is for them - a place for growing crops or a place for relaxing.

Every second Russian has countryside real estate (51%): 7% have country mansions (in 2005 - 11%); 27% have dachas; 17% have lands (in 2005 the share of such respondents has increased by 4%). However, 48% of respondents report they possess neither of the above-mentioned things. Those who have dacha are mostly metropolitan and big cities residents (33%), as well as Russians with high level of income (34%); those who have lands are mainly respondents living in small cities  (31%) and those with low level of income (21%). As a rule, medium-sized residents do not possess countryside real estate (56%).

 

Dacha is first of all a source of agricultural products. Russians still use dacha as the major source for their families` food supply; the share of such respondents has increased from 72% to 81% compared to 2005. Only 2% of respondents grow crops for future production. Twenty-four per cent make landscape design (planting flowers, flower beds et cet.). Dacha is a place for entertainment and rest for every fifth respondents (21%). Nine per sent do nothing special with their dachas. Residents of small cities tend to use dacha for growing agricultural products (90%). Muscovites and St.Petersburgians mainly plant flowers and make flower beds at their dachas (46%), and relax (37%). High-income respondents are inclined to regard dacha as a place to relax (42%) or a possibility to plant flowers, and so on (32%). Russians with low or middle level of income use dacha to provide themselves with agricultural products (81-83%).

 

Vegetables are at the top of the planting rating.  The overwhelming majority (92%) of those who use dachas for planting plant vegetables (carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, and so on). They are basically small cities residents (97%) and respondents with average and low financial self-esteem  (92-93%).  The second place is held by greens (88%); most of those who prefer planting greens are Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (93%). Seventy-nine per cent tend to grow berries - most of them are metropolitan residents (89%), as well as respondents with average or low income (81-82%).  Seventy-five per cent of Russians plant potatoes - they are mainly residents of middle and small cities (80-81%), as well as respondents with high level of income.  Sixty-three per cent plant fruits - they are generally metropolitan and big cities residents (72-73%), and both respondents with high and low income level (67% for each). Cereal grains are the least popular products (39%); usually big and middle cities residents (45%), as well as Russians with high level of income (53%) grow grains.

 

 Dacha is used for subsistence agriculture rather than as a place to relax. Dacha is subsistence farming and an additional source of income rather than a place to relax for Russians (64% against 30%); for the recent four years the share of Russians perceiving dachas this way has increased (in 2005 - 60% and 32% respectively). Metropolitan residents and respondents with high level of income regard their dachas as a place to relax (61% and 50% respectively); for Russians living in small and medium-sized cities dacha is a source  of subsistence  (75% and 68%). Respondents aged 18-24 tend to use dachas to relax and have fun (44%); for the elderly persons dacha is basically a source of their income through subsistence farming (75%).

 

The initiative Russian opinion poll was conducted on May 30-31, 2009. 

1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.

The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

 

Do you possess a dacha, a countryside house or land?

 (close-ended question, one answer, % of the urban population)

 

2005

2009

yes, I have a  countryside house suitable for year-round living

11

7

yes, I have a countryside house suitable for seasonal living

26

27

yes, I have  land

13

17

I have neither

49

48

hard to tell

1

1

If you have a dacha or land, how do you use it?

 (close-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who have countryside house, dacha or land)

 

2005

2009

Basically for rest  and entertainment

18

21

I plant flowers, make flower beds, make ponds and other decorative garden structures

21

24

I produce agricultural products for family supply

72

81

I produce agricultural products for sale

4

2

I do not do any special things with the land

9

9

hard to tell

4

2

What does your family grow at your garden plot?

 (close-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who do planting)

 

Total respondents

Type of settlement

Moscow & St.Petersburg

More than 500thousand

100-500thousand

Less than  100

Potato

75

43

74

81

80

Vegetables (carrots, cabbage, cucumber, tomatoes and so on)

92

80

93

87

97

Cereal grains  (peas, beans and so on)

39

20

45

45

38

Greens  (parsley, dill and so on)

88

93

90

79

90

Fruits (apples, pears. Plums and so on)

63

72

73

65

55

Berries (currant,  strawberry, gooseberry and so on)

79

89

85

73

77

Other

1

0

1

1

0

Hard to tell

0

 0

 0

0

0

In general, what is dacha to you?

 (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who have dacha or plot)

 

2005

2009

place to relax

32

30

subsistence farming and  additional source of income

60

64

hard to tell

8

6

In general, what is dacha to you?

 (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who have dacha or plot)

 

Total respondents

Financial state self-assessment

Very good, good

Average

Bad, very bad

place to relax

30

50

29

26

subsistence farming and  additional source of income

64

42

66

68

hard to tell

6

8

5

6

 

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM,

 the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!

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