The agricultural sector as a fundamental dynamic of the urbanization process: A comparative analysis of various countries and the case of Turkey

The agricultural sector plays a significant role in reducing rural poverty in Turkey, as it does globally. Rural areas in Turkey are characterized by economic activities largely dependent on agriculture, yet they exhibit low income levels and widespread poverty. This situation renders agriculture a fundamental instrument in alleviating rural poverty. Accordingly, analyzing the relationship between agriculture and rural poverty accurately is essential for developing effective and sustainable agricultural policies. The aim of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the impact of agricultural practices—one of the key factors influencing the urbanization process—on urbanization in Turkey and various other countries, and to provide recommendations for improving such practices in Turkey. To achieve this aim, a theoretical framework on urbanization, the relationship between urbanization and the agricultural sector, and agricultural practices in developed countries and Turkey was first established by drawing on primary sources in the domestic and international literature within the scope of the descriptive research method. Subsequently, in order to reveal the relationship between rural poverty and the agricultural structure in Turkey, the terms of trade of the agricultural sector were analyzed historically. In this context, the findings of studies examining agricultural terms of trade from the proclamation of the Republic to 2005 were initially presented. Then, based on the data obtained from TÜİK for the period 2005–2023, the trend of Turkey's terms of trade was determined using the Carli Price Index, and the relationship between agriculture and poverty was elucidated. Within this framework, the impact of the agricultural sector on the urbanization process was evaluated. The results indicate that agricultural organizations, research, education, and extension systems, as well as agricultural insurance and credit mechanisms, are more effective and successful in developed countries compared to Turkey. These institutional structures enable developed countries to achieve higher agricultural performance, thereby contributing to a healthier urbanization process. Conversely, in Turkey, the limited effectiveness of agricultural organizations, research, education and extension systems, and agricultural insurance and credit mechanisms adversely affects the urbanization process, while the domestic terms of trade have evolved to the disadvantage of the agricultural sector.