Agricultural workers in seasonal migration process: The case of Alaca (Çorum) district

According to 2023 TurkStat data, the rate of people employed in agriculture in our country is 14.8% of the total employment areas, and it is estimated that half of this rate consists of seasonal agricultural workers. Seasonal agricultural workers are an important component of the agricultural sector and play an important role for the continuity of agricultural production. As the study area, it has been determined as Alaca district of Çorum province, where seasonal agricultural workers are active. The aim of the study is to examine the demographic characteristics, living conditions and working reasons of seasonal agricultural workers coming to the district, to access and support the recorded data and to offer solutions to the problems that occur. Qualitative research methods were used in this study. Document analysis, semi-structured interview form and observation technique were used as data collection tools. A total of 40 seasonal agricultural workers were interviewed. Of the interviewees, 32 people are seasonal agricultural workers residing in tents, and the remaining 8 people are seasonal agricultural workers residing permanently in the district. Interviews with seasonal agricultural workers residing in tents were held in July 2023. 17 of the interviewees were female and 15 were male. According to the data obtained, it is seen that the majority of the incoming workers come from the Southeastern Anatolia Region and Sanliurfa is in the first place on a provincial basis. It was stated that the seasonal agricultural workers who participated in the interview did not work in any city other than Alaca district and that all of their family members participated in the migration. It has been determined that they spend eight months of the year in Alaca district. It has been determined that they determine their own way of working, and that they work on a daily basis and on a daily basis. Working hours vary between 8 and 15 hours depending on the way they work. The most intensive products they care for and harvest in Alaca district are: Sugar beet, onion, lentils, respectively. It has been determined that the most common problem of workers is in the field of accommodation and accommodation. Due to the fact that the shelter area is a tent, there are problems in sheltering in unusual weather conditions. In addition, in this migration with all family members, they suffer from the fact that children stay in unhealthy housing conditions.