The role of agricultural credit cooperatives in cattle breeding: A study on Sinop Erfelek

This study investigates the contribution of Agricultural Credit Cooperative to the partners in Erfelek District of Sinop province. In the study, 250 enterprises living in the district were surveyed and data were obtained. Chi-square test was used to analyze the data. In the study, the age, education and income status of the owners were determined and their social and economic structures were evaluated. The products business owners use as roughage, from how much area they provide roughage, the problems they experience in marketing their cattle were determined and solutions were developed. Business owners' status of being a partner or not of Agricultural Credit Cooperative were investigated and their reasons were determined. The role of the cooperative in the economic and social aspects of the partners was investigated. 84% of the enterprises participating in the research is partner to the Agricultural Credit Cooperative whereas 16% is not a partner. The main livelihood of the region is cattle fattening, as well as forestry and other agricultural activities. There are several factors effecting the participation of partners to the cooperative. Among these factors, sufficient agricultural equipment and equipment, satisfaction with the interest rates applied in the cooperative, benefiting from cooperatives for the development of animal husbandry, animal capacities of enterprises and average feeding period of fattening cattle were found important. In Erfelek District of Sinop, fattening enterprises are increasing their tendency to cooperate because they are economically weak. This increase develops the activities of the cooperative and provides benefits to its partners and farms in the region. It is observed that the presence of live animals has decreased considerably by looking at past periods. The cooperative contributes to the development and sustainability of animal husbandry. In order to prevent this decrease, quality breeds should be selected and distributed to producers in appropriate conditions. Thus, a significant contribution can be made to the region and Turkey's economy. Keywords: Cattle Breeding, Sinop, Erfelek, Agricultural Credit Cooperatives