Evaluating the Impacts of the Land Consolidation Project Implemented in Tekirdağ Province on Agricultural Enterprises

Authors : Derya İlkay Yılmaz, Fuat Yilmaz

Pages : 244-256

Doi:10.33462/jotaf.1543504

View : 81 | Download : 58

Publication Date : 2025-01-29

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study aims to evaluate the structural, economic, and social impacts of the land consolidation project implemented in Tekirdağ province on agricultural enterprises. The research utilizes data from surveys conducted with farmers in villages designated as consolidation areas, along with records from the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works. To determine the impacts of land consolidation, descriptive statistics, the Januszewski Index (JI), the Simmons Index (SI), and other consolidation indicators were employed. Following land consolidation, the average parcel size of enterprises increased by 30.54%, reaching an average of 34.79 decares, while the number of parcels decreased by 42.37%, resulting in an average of 9.29 parcels. The increase in the JI value from 0.344 to 0.419 and the SI value from 0.197 to 0.254 suggests that land fragmentation has decreased. However, these values also indicate that it could be further reduced with improved planning. From an economic perspective, fuel consumption decreased by 11.96%, averaging 4.71 liters, and travel time loss reduced by 12.50%, averaging 0.77 hours, indicating that land consolidation has enhanced the efficiency of enterprises. The social impacts of the project were less positive than anticipated, with many farmers expressing dissatisfaction due to insufficient information during the planning phase, delays in project completion, and perceived discrepancies between promised and actual outcomes. Regarding social impacts, the percentage of farmers who believed that land consolidation would be beneficial was 93.07% before the process, which fell to 41.58% afterward. Additionally, 84.16% of farmers raised objections about the process. This suggests that the land consolidation project may not have achieved the expected positive impacts. To improve the effectiveness of land consolidation projects and increase farmer satisfaction, several key enhancements are needed. Project planning should be more comprehensive and grounded in up-to-date data, with a commitment to transparency throughout all stages. Encouraging farmer participation in the consolidation process and increasing their awareness and understanding are essential. It is also important to create avenues for farmers to voice their concerns and actively contribute to the process. Furthermore, accelerating project timelines and ensuring the complete delivery of promised services would help build farmers\\\' trust. Implementing these strategies could lead to more positive social and economic outcomes for land consolidation projects.
Keywords : Toplulaştırma göstergeleri, Ekonomik Etkiler, Çiftçi memnuniyeti, Kırsal kalkınma, Arazi düzenlemesi