Seasonal agriculture and child poverty in Turkey: The case of Adana

Child poverty, which is a global problem, varies according to countries and even regions within countries. Turkey's economic situation, cultural characteristics, geographical location, etc. Has shaped child poverty according to its own structure. In addition, child poverty in rural areas and child poverty in cities differ in our country. In this study, it is aimed to reveal all aspects of child poverty in the region from the perspective of children living temporarily or permanently in the seasonal agricultural campus, then to investigate the level of actualization of the basic rights of all children such as living, development, protection and participation, and finally to make social policy recommendations. Children at the center of the problem are the target group of this research in order to reveal all aspects of child poverty in the seasonal agriculture campus and to develop social policies on the subject. For this reason, qualitative research method was preferred in the study. Semi-structured interview forms suitable for the participants were prepared and interviews were conducted with 19 children over the age of 11 in Tabaklar Seasonal Agriculture Campus in Karataş district of Adana province. As a result of the interviews, it has been observed that there are problems in sheltering, access to health services, drinking and utility water in the area where the children live. In addition, problems such as absenteeism, academic failure and dropping out of school have been identified in the education life of children. As a result of the problems in education, children leave school and become workers in the fields. This situation causes children to enter the vicious circle of poverty and remain as poor individuals in their future lives. In the last part of the study, social policy recommendations were made according to the findings.