YOUNG WOMEN FARMERS IN THE SCOPE OF THE YOUNG FARMERS GRANT SUPPORT PROJECT: THE CASE OF KIRIKKALE PROVINCE IN TURKIYE

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal the situation of young women farmers (YWFs) who benefited from cattle farming support for three years in Kırıkkale, one of the provinces where the study was carried out. In Kırıkkale province, 397 young farmers were supported and 250 of them were YWFs. The projects with the highest grant support were cattle farming projects, and they constituted 62.22% of the projects (247 units). The rate of YWF who benefited from cattle farming support for three years was higher than young men farmers (YMF) and was determined as 59.51%. In this study, face-to-face survey questionnaires were filled in the 2020 year with 36 YWFs and 36 YMFs. As a result of the study, it was determined that YMFs have more experience in cattle breeding than YWFs. It is seen that especially YWFs are married and their families have high non-agricultural income; their husbands support especially YWFs at the application stage. 52.78% of YWFs and 69.44% of YMFs stated that they want to expand their farms with the given support. As a result of the study, it was determined that there was a significant increase in the number of animals after the given support to the young farmers, and it was revealed that the most important problem of the young farmers was that they had financial difficulties in the supply of production inputs. It is seen that this project, which has both social and economic aspects, encourages YWFs to take more part in agricultural activities. However, it is important to determine more effective criteria at the selection stage, follow up and supervise the beneficiaries of the incentives both during and after the project, and support the successful ones to grow their farms. Keywords: Young women farmers, young farmers project support, rural development, kırıkkale-Turkiye.