Understanding Why Farmers Leave: Validating Key Indicators for Farm Exit in İzmir, Türkiye

Abstract

This study analyses the factors that affect farmers’ decisions to quit farming, using the İzmir region of Türkiye as a case study. A sample of 195 farmers was surveyed to identify the factors influencing this decision. Factors such as the farm type, farm size, agricultural subsidies, land ownership, and age of farmers were found to significantly affect the decisions of the farmers. Sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the changes in the selected variables. The sensitivity analysis showed that young farmers, under financial pressure and tenancy uncertainty, are likely to stay in farming when they receive agricultural subsidies. Thus, targeted financial subsidies can help sustain the livelihood of young farmers efficiently. This study reveals the important relationship between policy interventions and the long-term economic viability of farming as a livelihood. This relationship is crucial for the overall viability of agriculture and the well-being of rural communities. Overall, the findings from this study will inform the development of policies to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of rural farming communities in Türkiye.