Determining the tendencies of the youth population to remain in agriculture: The case of Şanlıurfa

In this study, it is aimed to investigate the idea of rural youth to migrate from the rural area where they live to another place within the framework of causes and consequences. For this purpose, the expectations of rural youth in the region from the countryside, the adequacy of agriculture, migration intentions, reasons and behaviors were examined. In the study, the general characteristics of the rural settlements where young people live and the socio-economic structure of the households in which they live were investigated, the perspectives of the parents of young people on agriculture and migration were examined and the impact on the migration behavior of young people was determined. The study was conducted in 4 districts of Şanlıurfa province and 18 villages connected to these districts. In the research, 376 rural youth surveys and 376 household surveys in which these young people took part were conducted. The young people surveyed were selected in the age range of December 15-29. The data obtained from the surveys were evaluated in the analysis of the Migration Behavior Index and the results were presented in the form of charts. According to the research findings, it was determined that 60.1% of young people want to emigrate from the rural area where they live, 36.7% do not want to emigrate, and 3.2% are undecided. Most of the young people who want to emigrate plan to work in non-agricultural areas where they emigrate. Most of the young people who want to emigrate plan to work in non-agricultural areas where they emigrate. In order to determine the migration behavior index of rural youth with migration intentions, 12 indicators were determined and the GDI was determined as 0.78. It has been determined that factors such as the way young people migrate, their work plan, and the family's approach to migration decisions play a decisive role in migration behavior. In the study, chi-square analysis was performed and a significant relationship was found at the level of 1% between the idea of emigration and the age, educational Decency and gender of young people. As a result of the research, general and regional recommendations that will keep the young population in the agricultural sector have been tried to be developed.