A study on the causes of agricultural land fragmentation and its impact on farm income in central district of Erzurum province

Having agricultural lands that are scattered with irregular shape and small pieces causes loss of time when trips are made to the lands, difficulties in use of latest agricultural techniques, loss of land and productivity, disputes about the boundaries of lands, thus the process of improvement and modernization in the farms slows down. In this study, the problems caused by having scattered land with small pieces were identified in the farms of Erzurum central district. Data used in thus study was collected from 116 farms in 34 villages. The cross-tab analyses were conducted by classifying the farms in terms of average parcel size four groups. These groups are 0-10, 10-20, 20-30 and 30 decars and above. According to the results of annual activities, farms with 30 decars average parcel size in present condition have higher agricultural income per decar compared to other farms. Decreasing number of parcels and increasing size of parcels are possible by consolidating of lands to enhance agricultural structure. Increasing parcel size and having these lands in regular shape would increase productivity of agricultural activities and thus enhance agricultural income in the farms.