Determination of sufficient income enterprise size for sustainable development in agricultural enterprises in Aydın province

Objective: The aim of this research is to investigate the economic size, sufficient income enterprise size, sustainability levels, and life satisfaction of agricultural enterprises carrying out agricultural production activities in Aydın Province, where agricultural production intensity and diversity are high. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted from July to December 2022 with primary data obtained from enterprise owners in lowland villages where agricultural production and the number of producers are the highest in Aydın Province. Considering geographical location, agricultural enterprise data obtained from a questionnaire administered to 389 enterprise owners in 46 villages in 17 counties were used. Based on these data, some socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the enterprises were analyzed. Based on the agricultural income indicators of the enterprises, the economic size of these enterprises according to ESU, and the size of the enterprise with sufficient income according to the TURKSTAT relative poverty line were determined. ANOVA and Kruskal Wallis tests were used to determine whether the averages of some socioeconomic variables of the enterprises grouped according to the sufficient income level showed a significant difference between the enterprise groups and which agricultural enterprise group was statistically different from the other. Khi-square test was used to determine the differences between observed and expected frequencies in categorical variables and to analyse categorical data. Factor analysis was also used to determine the relationships between a large number of variables and/or judgements, and to categorize them into main interrelated groups. Findings: According to the ESU criterion, 30,85% of holdings were economically large, 51,16% were below medium and above medium, and 18% were in the small and very small economic size groups. Based on the agricultural income calculation of enterprises, the 2022 income-based poverty line was accepted as the threshold value, and enterprises were divided into groups according to their income level. Enterprises with agricultural income values that are 15% lower than the relative poverty line are the first group of enterprises below the adequate income line. Enterprises with agricultural income in the poverty line are agricultural enterprises with sufficient income. The enterprise gross margin value for 2022 was determined to be 380 €/da/year, and the agricultural income value was determined to be 299 €/da/year in adequate income enterprises. The gross margin value in 2024 is 13.300 TL/da/year and the agricultural income value is 10.465 TL/da/year. The economic size, agricultural income, gross margin, and sustainable development levels of agricultural enterprises with sufficient income were found to be higher than those of enterprises below the sufficient income level. It was determined that the agricultural income of enterprises below the sufficient income level was below the 2022 relative poverty line, with the agricultural income they obtained from agricultural production activities. It has been determined that these enterprises do not have sustainable development opportunities because they cannot provide savings, investment and self-sufficient income. In addition, according to the Khi-square analysis, it was found that the economic sustainability levels of agricultural enterprises were higher than the social and environmental sustainability levels. In general, 52,4% of the enterprises were in the high sustainability group and 21,3% in the unsustainable group. Within the scope of the World Values Survey and Oxford Happiness Inventory, it was found that more than 45 per cent of business owners were unsatisfied and happy with their lives. It becomes more difficult for enterprises with low life satisfaction and happiness levels, adequate income, and sustainability levels to develop and sustain agriculture sustainably. Conclusion:The economic size, size of enterprises with sufficient income, sustainability levels, and life satisfaction of the analyzed enterprises were investigated. Although the majority of these enterprises have sufficient economic income and high sustainability levels, it has been determined that more than 45% of the owners are not satisfied and happy with their lives. It has been determined that these enterprises cannot have sustainable development opportunities because of the inability of agricultural enterprises below a sufficient income level to provide income to the family and to provide sufficient income enterprise size at the point of implementing investments. For the sustainable development and sustainability of agriculture, enterprises, and rural areas, economic, social, and environmental sustainability levels, sufficient income level, and life satisfaction/happiness levels should be targeted, and these issues should be addressed together. Keywords: Agricultural enterprises, Sufficient income, Sustainable development, Sustainable agriculture, Life satisfaction/happiness, Aydin