Socio-economic transformation in the Büyük Menderes Basin within the framework of environmental and agricultural policies

The consequences of climate change and global warming on ecosystems, humans, and other living organisms are becoming more apparent in numerous regions. In addition, conventional production models, including agriculture and animal husbandry, are significantly associated with global warming and climate change. Currently, a human population is present in every region of the world that is involved in agricultural production and animal husbandry. This population is confronted with a variety of challenges as a result of the evolving climate. Experts predict that this situation will only worsen in the near and distant future. Some of the issues caused by global warming and climate change include the potential for individuals in the agricultural and livestock sectors to be compelled to produce different production products than their current products due to adverse conditions caused by climate change and other external factors, the potential for them to leave the agricultural sector and transition to other business areas, and the conditions under which they will be compelled to migrate from their current locations. This study examined the Büyük Menderes Basin, a significant agricultural producing area in Aydın province, which is impacted by climate change and global warming and is anticipated to experience intensified effects in the future. Five distinct villages from the districts of Nazilli, Kuyucak, Söke, Çine, and Bozdoğan were selected, and semi-structured interviews were performed with key informants. This study assesses the socio-economic transformations in the rural communities of Aydın province, situated in the Büyük Menderes Basin, and the strategies policymakers can implement to address the challenges faced, in the context of global warming, climate change, and agricultural production.