Agricultural change from the 1970s to the present and its socio-economic results: Case of Taşova (Amasya)

Agriculture have been significant for Anatolian lands from the past to the present. Especially fertile plains and riverbanks are essential areas for agricultural production. The Taşova district of Amasya province, which is the subject of the study, was established on the Taşova plain, which is a tectonic plain with fertile lands and by the Yeşilırmak river. It is seen that many agricultural products have been grown in and around this plain from past to present. The types and production quantities of these agricultural products have changed over time, and the production of some agricultural products has been abandoned. This study, it is aimed to reveal the changes in agricultural production over about 50 years. For this purpose, interviews were conducted in the Taşova district and villages with semi-structured interview forms prepared using qualitative research methods. Through the interviews, findings about agricultural production and changes in the past and present were obtained. Retrospective documents were also used to support the findings obtained. Tables, graphs, and maps were created to support the findings. These findings have revealed the causes and consequences of the change in agricultural production. Agricultural production in Taşova has changed due to many economic, social, and natural reasons. Changing government policies over the years, developments in agricultural production, migration, and the preference for more income-generating products are the main reasons for these changes. Due to these reasons, product patterns have also changed in the district. In particular, the production of industrial products such as tobacco and sugar beet has decreased to almost nothing. Agricultural products such as sunflower and hazelnut, which were not produced in the past, started to be produced. At the same time, it has been seen that agricultural products produced for basic needs in the past are produced for commercial purposes today. As a result of these changes, agricultural production costs have increased and caused migrations. Positive and negative changes have occurred in traditional agricultural methods, home layouts, income levels, and agricultural production.