Agriculture and Animal Husbandry in the Rural Areas of Burdur Province: Current Situation and Problems

PROJECT TITLE:

Agriculture and Animal Husbandry in Rural Burdur: Current Situation and Problems

PROJECT COORDINATOR:

Prof. Dr. Cem ERGUN

SUBJECT OF THE PROJECT:

Burdur Province is located in the interior part of the Mediterranean Region, specifically in the area known as the Lakes Region. Covering an area of 6,883 km², Burdur is categorized as a “Level 2 Statistical Region” along with Isparta and Antalya, as per the Cabinet Decision No. 2002/4720, published in the Official Gazette on September 22, 2002. As of 2020, Burdur's total population is 267,092, which reflects a decrease of 3,704 people compared to 2019. The annual population growth rate is -1.37%. Apart from the central district, the province has ten other districts: Ağlasun, Altınyayla, Bucak, Çavdır, Çeltikçi, Gölhisar, Karamanlı, Kemer, Tefenni, and Yeşilova.

The total land assets of the province amount to 717,500 hectares. However, only 28.82% of the province's total area, equivalent to 206,784 hectares, can be utilized as agricultural land. A significant portion of Burdur’s plant production consists of field crops, with cereals and forage crops being the most prevalent, followed by industrial crop cultivation. As of 2020, the Gross Agricultural Production Value in Plant Production was 2,138,697,035.00 TL.

Animal husbandry holds substantial importance in the provincial economy. Nearly two-thirds of the population relies on agriculture and animal husbandry for their livelihood. The province has 23,000 registered farmers and approximately 16,000 active livestock enterprises. As of 2020, there are 213,150 cattle, 359,810 sheep, and 271,765 poultry in the region. While the national average is five cattle per person, Burdur has an average of twelve. Thus, the significance of beef cattle farming in the city is clearly evident. Burdur ranks 20th in Turkey in terms of the number of milked cattle and 10th in terms of milk production, achieving the highest average milk yield per animal in the country. This exceptional yield from livestock represents a significant advantage for Burdur, setting it apart from other provinces. In terms of milk production per capita, Burdur ranks third among Turkish provinces, following Ardahan and Kars.

Generally, more than half of the beef cattle operations in the province consist of farms with fewer than ten animals, totaling nearly 16,000 beef cattle enterprises. The economic and social significance of dairy farming in the Burdur region is undeniable for both the region and the country.

In an environment characterized by rapid population growth and ongoing efforts toward economic development, the livestock sector in Turkey is crucial for ensuring sufficient and balanced nutrition, as well as for generating the necessary capital for development. Today, the livestock sector, along with its components—including feed industry, meat and products industry, dairy industry, leather and textile industries, veterinary pharmaceuticals, and livestock equipment industries—creates new employment opportunities and adds value through the processing of animal products.

Despite the economic significance of agriculture and livestock, it is believed that small producers, particularly in rural areas, face numerous economic, social, and production-related challenges. In other words, the livestock sector and the agricultural activities intertwined with its economic dynamics hold substantial importance both for our country and for Burdur Province. While these two sectors significantly contribute to the national and provincial economy, producers encounter various problems.

The project's focus is to identify the issues faced in the livestock sector in Burdur Province and to develop solutions. In this context, the experiences, problems, and expectations of the stakeholders directly involved in the sector are sought through face-to-face interviews.
 

PROJECT OBJECTIVE:

The Western Mediterranean Region, particularly Burdur Province, is a rich agricultural and livestock area due to its socio-economic and geographical characteristics. Among the provinces in the region, Burdur stands out as the one with the highest level of production in these sectors. The main sources of the economy in Burdur Province are agricultural and livestock activities, along with the marble industry. In rural areas, both subsistence and market-oriented activities primarily rely on agriculture and animal husbandry.

The primary aim of this project is to identify the socio-economic status of the stakeholders involved in livestock activities in the rural areas of Burdur Province and to determine the issues faced by the livestock sector. To achieve this goal, the project first consulted with the Burdur Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and the district agricultural directorates within Burdur Province to identify the villages with the most intensive livestock activities. Field research was conducted in 33 villages across a total of 11 districts, including the central district, with face-to-face interviews conducted with producers.

Through these interviews, information was gathered about the current social and economic conditions of the producers, as well as the problems they encounter in their sector activities. Additionally, the project aimed to uncover the producers' expectations and proposed solutions regarding the challenges they face.

The project primarily focuses on identifying the dynamics that determine the social and economic structure of the livestock sector in Burdur Province. In this context, it aims to create a framework for understanding the issues confronting the livestock sector and the difficulties experienced by the stakeholders involved.
 

REGIONAL IMPACT OF THE PROJECT:

According to the research findings, it has been concluded that producers face numerous problems both during the production phase and when selling the produced goods. The most prominent issues raised by producers can be listed as follows:

• Insufficient or Lack of Pastures
• High Feed Costs
• Low Production of Forage Crops
• Inadequate Feed Facilities
• Lack of Cooperation with Universities
• Insufficient Inspections
• Bureaucratic Obstacles
• Insufficient Incentives
• High Energy Costs
• Animal Diseases
• Animal Deaths
• Low Milk Yield
• Low Milk Prices
• Inadequate Milking Centers
• Poorly Maintained Shelters
• Small Scale of Enterprises
• Insufficient Employment
• Capacity Utilization Issues
• Insufficient Irrigation Facilities
• Difficulty in Obtaining Feed
• Local/Regional Sales and Marketing Challenges
• Insufficient Dairy Processing Facilities
• Inadequate Education and Consultancy Activities

Based on these identified issues, macro-level policies aimed at the livestock sector in Burdur Province should be developed. Among the most critical problems faced by producers are high production costs and low prices for the products obtained. In this context, it is necessary to support producers, especially in accessing feed and energy sources, and to explore ways to access these resources at lower costs. It is also considered essential to regulate the support and incentives provided by the government. Regulations should be implemented concerning import-based feed and livestock purchases, which negatively affect local producers. Animal diseases and deaths place producers in difficult situations; therefore, on-site training can be provided to enhance awareness of animal health and care. In areas with high production intensity, it may be beneficial to employ veterinarians in every village, if necessary.

Despite its significant importance in the Burdur provincial economy, the livestock sector is predominantly strong in the production phase. In other words, the operational capacity based on animal products is quite low. Thus, investments should be prioritized in establishing facilities for processing the products obtained from the sector near the production sites to enhance market access. This will contribute to increasing economic gains by processing high-quality products within the province. Furthermore, creating additional employment opportunities may slow down the migration of the young population to other provinces.

By expanding this application throughout the province and developing solutions for the issues identified through face-to-face interviews with producers and the main stakeholders in the sector, a more efficient and healthier production process can be achieved.

SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE PROJECT:

The livestock sector and its related by-products have always made significant economic contributions to our country. However, similar to many other areas, the livestock sector has long been neglected due to inadequate or insufficient economic and social policies, leading to the overlooking of producers' issues. Import-based initiatives have also placed local producers in difficult positions.

The findings obtained from field research conducted in a total of 33 villages where livestock activities are concentrated in Burdur Province will primarily provide insights into potential improvement policies for the Burdur livestock sector. During face-to-face interviews that were conducted over extended periods, efforts were made to thoroughly identify and present the conditions and problems faced by producers in the livestock sector. Given the importance of this sector to the national economy, the remedial and regulatory efforts to be undertaken in Burdur Province will illuminate macro policies that can be developed for the entire country’s livestock sector in the long run.

On-site interventions addressing the problems faced by producers, who are the main actors in the sector, are crucial for alleviating the challenges of the industry. Therefore, resolving the identified issues through on-site interventions will not only help eliminate these problems before they escalate but also play a key role in developing national policies for the livestock sector.