MOSCOW, June 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!