Impact Of International Agricultural Policies On Rural Poverty In Turkey

Abstract

Poverty is one of the important subjects that come into question in the world in the last decade. Poverty affects people directly or indirectly. Poverty begins to constitute most important problem of community and economic life in Turkey. Because of development in economy, fluctuations, shocks and commitments to international agriculture politics (World Bank, WTO, IMF practices) and politics that put into practice after 1980s have effected and continue to effect agriculture sector in Turkey. From now on, agricultural politics are determined by international organizations and companies. Politics that are put in practice for agriculture, price interventions, changes in support politics, privatization, reduce in input supports, to open out to international markets have mostly influenced small agricultural enterprises and landless. According to results of General Agriculture Census (2001), there are 3.020.000 agricultural enterprises in Turkey and 83 % of them are smaller than 10 hectares. In addition to this, 30% of agricultural population consists from landless. The most effected parts are landless and small agricultural enterprises because of practices such as sugar law, tobacco law, and change in support politics that result in international agricultural politics. This process brings about gradually increase and deepen in poverty in rural area with migration, unemployment and income distribution problems at national level. International agricultural politics mostly affect sugar and tobacco producers because of sugar and tobacco are the most important agricultural products in Turkey. Nearly 1 million sugar and tobacco producer families and 4.5-5.0 million people employ in transportation, marketing, and processing of these products. Because of sugar and tobacco law and limitations in producing hazelnut and tea plant, nearly 1.5 million producer families and labors who are involved in related sectors have directly affected. According to Household Budget Questionnaire in 2002, 38% of total population of Turkey is living with 2 USA Dollar income. At this point, it is so important to state that, rural areas feel poverty more deeply than urban areas. In fact, poverty ratio is 43% in rural areas that means of subsistence is only agriculture. In addition to this, the rate of absolute poverty in rural areas is 3,5 times of urban areas. In this paper, definition and characteristics of poverty and rural poverty in Turkey will be dealt with and effects of international politics on rural poverty will be examined.