Determination of sufficient income farm size for sustainable development in agricultural enterprises in Aydın province

Abstract

Objective: This research aims to examine the economic size, sufficient income farm size and sustainable development situations of agricultural farms in Aydın Province, known for its high intensity and diversity of agricultural production. Design/Methodology/Approach: Data were collected through face-to-face surveys from 389 agricultural farms in 17 districts and 46 villages of Aydın Province in 2022. The proportional sample size method was utilized to determine the sample size. Socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the farms were analyzed based on the survey data. Economic sizes were determined using the ESU criteria, and sufficient income levels were assessed according to the TURKSAT relative poverty line. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-Square tests were employed to compare data across different farm groups. Findings: According to the ESU criteria, 30.85% of farms were economically large, 51.16% were medium, and 18% were small. Using the 2022 income-based poverty line as a threshold, farms were categorized by income levels. Farms with agricultural incomes 15% below the poverty line were considered below the sufficient income line, while those at the poverty line were deemed to have sufficient income. The gross margin for 2022 was 380 €/da/year, with agricultural income at 299 €/da/year for sufficient income farms. In 2024, these values were 13,300 TL/da/year and 10,465 TL/da/year, respectively. farms with sufficient income had higher economic size, agricultural income, gross margin, and sustainability levels than those below the sufficient income line. Farms below the sufficient income level lacked sustainable development opportunities due to insufficient savings, investment, and self-sufficiency. Originality: This research uniquely characterizes the economic size, sufficient income farm size, and sustainable development status of agricultural farms in a region with high agricultural potential. By integrating these aspects, it addresses the gap in the literature by providing a comprehensive analysis of the economic size, sufficient income farm size, and sustainability status of agricultural farms.