The status of farmers benefiting from agricultural support: Eastern Mediterranean Region – Mersin

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

Objective: The presence of risks and uncertainties in agriculture underscores the importance of support mechanisms for ensuring the sustainability of farmers' agricultural activities. Mersin Province possesses high potential in terms of agricultural output. This study aims to examine the relationship between the demographic characteristics of farmers in rural Mersin, the size of agricultural holdings, and the extent to which farmers benefit from agricultural support instruments. However, the scope of support mechanisms considered in this study has been limited to those applicable within the research area. Design/Methodology/Approach: In this study, data were collected through face-to-face surveys conducted with 297 farmers engaged in agricultural production within the borders of Mersin Province during the 2020 period. The survey results were evaluated using the Chi-square analysis. The farmers’ utilization of agricultural support schemes was analyzed in relation to the size of their agricultural holdings and their demographic characteristics. Findings: The study revealed that determining the amount of agricultural support based on farm size specifically, increasing the support amount as farm size decreases can effectively guide production activities through support mechanisms. It was also determined that the type of supported products and the amount of support should be announced prior to the planting season, and payments should be made before planting begins. Originality/Value: Studies that examine how agricultural supports are utilized based on farmers’ demographic characteristics and farm sizes are limited in the literature in Türkiye. The absence of a study on this topic specifically in Mersin province highlights the originality of this research.