Changes in farm management and agricultural activities and their effect on farmers' satisfaction from land consolidation: The case of Bursa-Karacabey, Turkey

Abstract

In Turkey, the scattered, fragmented plots in agricultural areas are one of the major problems preventing agricultural efficiency. Land consolidation is an effective tool in improving efficiency, but the success depends greatly on farmers' satisfaction and adoption. Therefore, determination of issues important to farmers can positively influence future land consolidation projects. As such, land consolidation studies must be accelerated and extended nationwide in countries where land fragmentation is common and rural development is essential. This study determined the effects of changes in farm structures and agricultural activities on satisfaction with land consolidation. Nine villages in the Bursa-Karacabey (Turkey) plain irrigation area were selected as study sites, and the logit model was used to analyse survey data including 190 respondents. Our results indicate that farmers' age (AGE), easiness in crop pattern planning (CRPT), reduction in distance between farmstead centre and plots (DFCP), reduction in time consumed in accessing the plots (TIMES) and improvement in working conditions in the fields (WORC) significantly affected the satisfaction with land consolidation. All of these factors except farmers' age (AGE) are related to consolidation of scattered, fragmented and tiny parcels into larger plots with suitable shape and size for agriculture. Consolidation also increased production and further improved working conditions.