Structural analysis of animal husbandry enterprises in Tunceli province

Livestock farming constitutes the primary source of livelihood for many families in Turkey, particularly in rural areas such as Tunceli Province, located in the Eastern Anatolia Region. Despite its economic importance, the number of livestock in Tunceli remains generally low. Factors such as rural depopulation caused by security concerns and migration have adversely affected livestock activities. Notably, the population of large livestock has decreased due to rising input costs and maintenance difficulties, whereas an increase has been observed in small livestock numbers. Additionally, the region's mountainous terrain, rich in flora, has contributed to a growing number of families engaging in beekeeping. This study aims to examine the production structure, socio-economic profile, cooperative participation, and spatial production preferences of livestock producers in Tunceli. Data was collected through surveys conducted with 301 producers across eight districts, supplemented by official statistics, integrating both quantitative and qualitative methods. Findings indicate that production is largely maintained by traditional methods, with small livestock farming widely practiced and transhumance still significant. While large livestock numbers have declined over the years, small livestock and beekeeping activities have increased. The rich floral diversity of the mountainous areas has been identified as a favorable factor for apiculture development. Through 23 relational analyses, the study evaluates associations among producer characteristics (education level, gender, income from livestock), production structure (type of livestock, shelter type, feeding method), and organizational participation (cooperative membership, marketing challenges). Results reveal that education level plays a critical role in adopting modern production techniques, cooperative membership alleviates marketing problems, and although women contribute actively to production, their participation in organizational processes remains limited. Based on these findings, the study recommends the localized planning of livestock policies, infrastructural support for transhumance, promotion of women's participation in cooperatives, and dissemination of modern production techniques. This research aims to contribute to the development of rural development-oriented agricultural policies.