An assesment of market issues and the role of social media on eco-farms

Along with neoliberal policies, there are changes in economic, social, and spatial dimensions. In particular, intensive industrialization and urbanization are affecting the rural areas. Alternative and sustainable development is needed to prevent gentrification, to protect environmental and cultural values, and to step up the socio-economic development of local people. Ecological farms to be covered within the scope of the study presents the integrated approaches of eco-tourism, voluntary tourism and experience tourism that are the type of alternative tourism. Approaches aimed in ecological farms; the creation of economic and social benefits, the creation of educational and learning activities, the provision of social and cultural sustainability, the development of environment friendly production and consumption models by reducing usage of resources. In this study, a questionnaire study was carried out with 28 ecological farm owners included in the Eco-Agro Tourism and Voluntary Knowledge and Skills Exchange on Organic Farms (TaTuTa) project which has been initiated by the Buğday Association. Value creation is emerging as a concept that is both economic and socially focused. 28 farms to be surveyed were selected in this direction. Encountered problems faced by the eco-farms that accept both voluntary and guest. farms, how they interact with volunteers and guests, how social media and online marketing systems affect economic and social value are discussed in this thesis. According to the findings, farm owners use online marketing methods substantially and benefit from social media to promote their farms, reach out to volunteers and guests, and sell farm products.