Determinants of Poverty among Smallholder Farms in Central District of Hatay Province, Turkey

The aim of this study was to calculate poverty and its determinants in smallholder farms in central district of Hatay province, Turkey. Data were collected by questionnaire to 73 small farmers who had 20 decares or smaller land sizes. In the study Head Count Ratio and the Poverty Gap Index were used to measure poverty. In order to reveal the factors affecting poverty the Logit model was used. According to the results, Head Count Index and Poverty Gap were determined as 17.8% and 49%, respectively. In addition, considering the 50% of the median income of all farmers, the poverty line was calculated as TL 3740.9 and 13 producers were found below the poverty line. The most important factors affecting poverty in small producers were determined as retirement status of the business manager, social security status, number of equivalent households and land size. We concluded that the presence of retirement and social security situation decreases poverty whereas increasing the number of equivalent household’s increases poverty. Early retirement programs for small producers and ease of payment of social security premiums may contribute to poverty reduction in smallholder farms.

Keywords:

Poverty, smallholder farm, head count index poverty gap, Turkey,

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