Spatial Differentiation of Agricultural Potential and the Level of Development of Voivodeships in Poland in 2008–2018

Polish agriculture is characterized by regional differentiation. These differences affect the production potential, generate income, or development which is an indispensable element of economic efficiency. The aim of the article is to assess the spatial diversification of agriculture potential in relation to the development of voivodeships in Poland using a synthetic measure. Choice of variables in 2009–2018 was conditioned by the availability of data collected in the city system at the Central Statistical Office. Method of Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution was used to build synthetic measures. The synthetic measure of agricultural potential in voivodships in Poland was negatively correlated with the measure of the natural environment, the measure of infrastructure, the number of unemployed and the area of forest land. It was correlated with the area of arable land, number of tractors, cattle population, pigs and the production of milk, basic crops, sugar beet. The measure of the voivodeship development is negatively correlated with the synthetic measure of agricultural potential, area of arable land, arable land and number of people employed in agriculture. Conclusions drawn may allow local governments to define potential directions of optimization of socio-economic development of rural communes.