Analysis of young farmers' perceptions of agriculture and rural areas and factors affecting thei̇r decision-making processes

This study investigates the perceptions of young farmers regarding the agricultural sector, their professional motivations, their level of access to support mechanisms, and their tendency to remain in the sector, with a focus on the TRB2 Region (comprising the provinces of Van, Muş, Bitlis, and Hakkâri), one of Türkiye's socio-economically disadvantaged areas. Additionally, the study analyses the levels of participation of young people in policy processes related to generational renewal in agriculture, as well as the organisational, economic, and social factors that influence their motivation to engage in this process. The research is based on farmers aged between 18 and 41, identified from the data of the Farmer Registration System (ÇKS) which is a data system of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The first level information was collected through surveys addressed to young farmers selected by a sampling method. The sample size was determined using proportional sampling for a finite population and analysed accordingly. The findings of the study reveal that the share of the agricultural sector in regional employment in the TRB2 Region is 24.5%, considerably higher than the national average of 14.8%. Due to the region's high unemployment rate (17.2%) and the limited development of the industrial and service sectors, agriculture holds critical importance for economic sustainability. The analysis of the age distribution of the agricultural population shows that, although the proportion of young farmers is above the national average (18.25%), the ageing trend within the sector persists. The research concludes that in order for young farmers to maintain their livelihoods in rural areas and sustain their engagement in agricultural production, they require not only financial support but also comprehensive support mechanisms involving social security, access to information, and effective representation. It is concluded that the TRB2 Region should be regarded as a priority area for intervention based on employment and development indicators, and that multi-dimensional rural development policies targeting young farmers are essential within this scope.