The impact of European Union agricultural supports on rural development: The case of Konya province

As in the rest of the world, agricultural activities constitute the basis of economic activities in rural areas in our country. Supporting agricultural activities is of critical importance for the development of rural areas. The European Union (EU) provides financial assistance in various fields to contribute to the development of candidate and potential candidate countries and to help them prepare for membership. Agricultural support is also included among these financial assistance. EU agricultural supports more effectively and efficiently, it is essential to examine the existing supports and their impacts. The main purpose of the study conducted in this direction is to examine the multifaceted effects of EU agricultural support on rural development in the Konya province example. The study is significant in offering recommendations to relevant stakeholders for maximizing the contribution of EU agricultural supports to rural development. In the study, quantitative data regarding the grant supports used by TKDK within the scope of the IPARD (2007-2013) Program were compiled and evaluated in terms of rural development. In addition, the data collected through surveys applied to experts, consultants and beneficiaries at the level of Konya province were interpreted and the contributions of the supports to rural development were revealed. In addition, Binary Logistic Regression Analysis was performed using the SPSS program with the appropriate data collected through surveys applied to beneficiaries and the variables that were effective in reaching the goals of the enterprises were determined. It was observed that thanks to the grant supports, economic activities in rural areas were diversified, new income sources were created, employment increased, production capacities, production quantities, productivity and profitability of the enterprises increased, and the welfare levels and quality of life of the people living in rural areas improved. The supports were found to have positive economic, social, cultural, environmental, and technological impacts on rural development. As a result of the statistical analysis, it was determined that there was a significant relationship between the status of reaching the goals of the enterprises (dependent variable) and the status of participating in the education or course program, financing sources and input production status (independent variables).