The impact of agricultural and livestock subsidies on rural development: The case of Batman province

In this study the potential effects of subsidies for the agriculture and livestock sectors on rural development and identification of the problems related to these subsidies is aimed to determine. In this context, data were obtained by surveying 410 producers/farmers, of whom 300 received agricultural support and 110 received livestock support, in Batman province and its districts, which stand out in the agriculture and livestock sectors. The primary data obtained were analyzed using frequency and percentage distribution analyses, parametric difference tests (t-tests and ANOVA), and Pearson correlation analysis. The analysis findings indicated that the participants' perceptions of the positive impact of agricultural and livestock subsidies on rural development were moderate and that the subsidies were particularly insufficient in terms of diversity and amount. Within the scope of the research, eight hypotheses were formulated to determine whether the average perceptions of the problems related to subsidies and the average perceptions of the effects of subsidies on rural development differed according to certain variables. Of these hypotheses, which were tested using t-tests and ANOVA which are parametric difference tests, , only one was accepted. In the study, Pearson correlation analysis was also applied to examine the relationship between the average perceptions of the problems related to subsidies and the average perceptions of the effects of subsidies on rural development with certain variables. The result of correlation analysis revealed a positive and significant relationship between the average perceptions of the problems related to subsidies and the income variable, and a negative and significant relationship between the average perceptions of the effects of subsidies on rural development and the income variable.