Village towns as a rural development model in Turkey and socio-economical analysis of farms within the village towns

This paper analyzes theoretical basis of village tovms as a rural development model, village town applications in Turkey and similar applications in the World, economic and social structure of faraıs as an economic unit of village towns. Hence, functions of village tovvns are revealed and the extend of their usefulness of in rural development is investigated. Within this context, the study covers family size and labor, educational levels of the fânn people, amount of land and livestock, capital structures, attitude and behavior of farm managers on farm management, life quality, and opinions of farm managers on village tovvns. A questionnaire study was carried out and total 120 questionnaires were applied, both vvithin and outside of the village towns, from Bolu-Taşkesti, Ordu-Mesudiye and Van-Dorutay village town. According to the findings of the survey, 51,49% of the farmers define the objective of the project as introducing urban facilities to the rural areas. Percentage of the farmers defining the objective as preventing migration is 19,80%. While 34,40% of the farmers expect fiili success from the project, 18,90% of them think that the project could only be partially successful. 45,71% of the farmers optimistte about the project's success state that a good govemment supervision and management of the project are prerequisites of such an acbievement While 26,70% of the farmers think that village town applications are successful, 42,20% of them consider them partially successful. 76,70% of the farmers stated mat they have not migrated to cities but there is no relation with this fact and the project. 22,20% of the farmers remaining in their villages stated that since the project attracted them, they have chosen not to migrate. When asked about Öıe innovations brought by the project, a significant part of farmers placed importance to main infrastructural investments, health, education and social services. While 65.60% of the farmers stated no change in their incomes with the project, 8,90% of them reported increases in their non-agricultural incomes. Participation to the project is low. Only 18,90% of the farmers stated mat they participated to the project in some way ör their opinions were asked about it.Key Words: Village Town, Rural Development, Socio-economic analysis, Cluster Analysis, Swot Analysis