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JOURNAL OF YOUTH RESEARCHES
Employment in the Rural Youth in Turkey and the Future of Agricultural Employment
In order to make young people in rural areas continue in the sector of agriculture,
states need to pay attention to farmer’s age averages and future plan. According to
Trakya Development Agency’s work with population living in rural area, the average
age of the relevant rural population is 51.2; 90% of them are engaged in farming
(Anonymous, 2013 / c). In another survey conducted with farmers (Keleş, 2015) in the
Çumra county of Konya, the average age of farmers was 47. In a study conducted
with farmers in Van province, the average producer age was 46.7 (Terin and Ateş,
2010). In the study conducted in the villages of Adana province, 59.8% of the farm-
ers were in the age range of 46-95 (Kantar, 2000). Therefore, figures should be paid
attention in Turkey.
Another issue is politics related to youth. With no direct policies aimed at rural youth,
the implemented policies and programs in terms of young people in Turkey also pre-
vent the desired advance. Especially, it is very effective that policies and programs
oriented the rural development, which also include employment, remain at the level of
education. In rural areas the young people who has limited education levels and the
quality of their current education are not qualified enough to transfer to the training.
For this reason, young people need serious counseling after education. In addition,
rural development / entrepreneurship efforts (eg Young Farmer Project, Social Sup-
port Project in Rural Area, Projects in Cooperative Owned Area, etc.), which are trying
to be encouraged with financial support, also fail due to the lack of services like suffi-
cient education and professional experience. In terms of employment policies, special
plans and programs for rural youth are needed. Relevant policies and programs need
to be privatized according to different geographical regions within rural and urban ar-
eas. It is necessary for young people to be separated as men and women and politics
should be produced according to this.
As a result; youth should be discussed privately and through gender-based terms, not
in whole, in all studies. Active employment policies should be made between institu-
tions, on a rural-urban basis, and in particular by the cooperation of young people.
Active employment policies require policies and programs that target rural youth di-
rectly. Considering that the needs of young people living in rural areas are about only
economic but also social aspects, employment-oriented studies should be carried
out; these studies should include not only agriculture but also non-agricultural work
and social facilities. It should be taken into consideration that all the economic prob-
lems that are taking place in the world due to globalization influence Turkey as well;
it is necessary to support the small family businesses in the countryside due to eco-
nomic and social survival and to prevent the young people from leaving agriculture.
