IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i8p3313-d1630412.html

Factors Influencing Rural Youth’s Tendency to Stay in Agriculture in Türkiye

Author

Listed:
  • Bekir Ayyıldız

    (Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Yozgat Bozok University, Yozgat 66900, Türkiye)

  • Gülistan Erdal

    (Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat 60250, Türkiye)

  • Adnan Çiçek

    (Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat 60250, Türkiye)

  • Merve Ayyıldız

    (Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Yozgat Bozok University, Yozgat 66900, Türkiye)

Abstract

The decline in the young population in rural areas has led to a shortage of skilled labor in agriculture. While the use of technology and capital is often suggested as a solution, it may not be sufficient, especially with the aging rural population. The goal of this study was to examine the factors influencing young people’s decisions to stay in agriculture, and propose solutions. On the other hand, this study presents policy recommendations aimed at strengthening implementation tools for sustainable development and revitalizing global partnerships under SDG 17. Data were collected through surveys with 2398 young individuals aged 15–29 across 27 rural settlements in Turkey. A binary logit regression model was used to analyze the probability of young people remaining in agriculture. The results show that, similar to studies in developing economies, young men were more likely to stay in agriculture than young women. Additionally, having personal income or assets, as well as larger land and livestock holdings in the household, increased the likelihood of staying in agriculture. Conversely, migration from households and higher education levels decreased the probability. The study emphasizes the need for projects that improve the welfare of rural youth. Economic development alone is insufficient; policies integrating agricultural and social factors, including family dynamics, could be more effective in ensuring youth retention in agriculture and supporting sustainable agricultural production.

Suggested Citation

  • Bekir Ayyıldız & Gülistan Erdal & Adnan Çiçek & Merve Ayyıldız, 2025. "Factors Influencing Rural Youth’s Tendency to Stay in Agriculture in Türkiye," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:8:p:3313-:d:1630412
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/8/3313/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/8/3313/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nong Zhu & Xubei Luo, 2010. "The impact of migration on rural poverty and inequality: a case study in China," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 41(2), pages 191-204, March.
    2. Dolapo Adeyanju & John Mburu & Wainaina Gituro & Chepchumba Chumo & Djana Mignouna & Adebayo Ogunniyi & John Kehinde Akomolafe & Joseph Ejima, 2023. "Assessing food security among young farmers in Africa: evidence from Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 11(1), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Julia Brewer & Ashley Larsen & Frederik Noack, 2024. "The land use consequences of rural to urban migration," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 106(1), pages 177-205, January.
    4. Zhe Chen & Apurbo Sarkar & Md. Shakhawat Hossain & Xiaojing Li & Xianli Xia, 2021. "Household Labour Migration and Farmers’ Access to Productive Agricultural Services: A Case Study from Chinese Provinces," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, October.
    5. Jin Yang & Zuhui Huang & Xiaobo Zhang & Thomas Reardon, 2013. "The Rapid Rise of Cross-Regional Agricultural Mechanization Services in China," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 95(5), pages 1245-1251.
    6. Gao, Jia & Song, Ge & Sun, Xueqing, 2020. "Does labor migration affect rural land transfer? Evidence from China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    7. Qianqian Chen & Ruifa Hu & Yiduo Sun & Chao Zhang, 2020. "How Does Rural–Urban Migration Experience Affect Arable Land Use? Evidence from 2293 Farmers in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-17, October.
    8. Wendy Geza & Mjabuliseni Ngidi & Temitope Ojo & Adetoso Adebiyi Adetoro & Rob Slotow & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2021. "Youth Participation in Agriculture: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    9. Mariapia Mendola, 2012. "Rural out‐migration and economic development at origin: A review of the evidence," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(1), pages 102-122, January.
    10. Blessings Chinsinga & Michael Chasukwa, 2012. "Youth, Agriculture and Land Grabs in Malawi," IDS Bulletin, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 43(6), pages 67-77, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Su, Yiqing & Chen, Xiaohan & Li, Yanyan & Wang, Yahua, 2024. "The robustness mechanism of the rural social-ecological system in response to the impact of urbanization——Evidence from irrigation commons in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    2. Xuelan Li & Rui Guan, 2023. "How Does Agricultural Mechanization Service Affect Agricultural Green Transformation in China?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-23, January.
    3. Ping Xue & Xinru Han & Yongchun Wang & Xiudong Wang, 2022. "Can Agricultural Machinery Harvesting Services Reduce Cropland Abandonment? Evidence from Rural China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-15, June.
    4. Jianqiang Li & Qing Feng & Ziyi Ye & Hongming Liu & Yandong Guo & Kun Zhou, 2025. "Farm Household Pluriactivity, Factor Inputs, and Crop Structure Adjustment: Evidence from Sichuan Province, China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.
    5. Xi Yu & Xiyang Yin & Yuying Liu & Dongmei Li, 2021. "Do Agricultural Machinery Services Facilitate Land Transfer? Evidence from Rice Farmers in Sichuan Province, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-14, April.
    6. Yingzheng Yan & Liupeng Chen & Ziwei Zhou & Yuanzhu Wei, 2025. "Digital financial inclusion and agricultural modernization development in China—a study based on the perspective of agricultural mechanization services," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Gokul P. Paudel & Trung Thanh Nguyen & Ulrike Grote, 2025. "Trade‐offs between labour migration and agricultural productivity: Evidence from smallholder wheat systems in Nepal," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(1), pages 202-229, January.
    8. Qian, Long & Lu, Hua & Gao, Qiang & Lu, Hualiang, 2022. "Household-owned farm machinery vs. outsourced machinery services: The impact of agricultural mechanization on the land leasing behavior of relatively large-scale farmers in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    9. Guanqing Xu & Yifei Ma & Guoqing Qin & Caihua Xu & Yuchun Zhu, 2025. "Why Chinese farmers are reluctant to transfer their land in the context of non-agricultural employment: insights from agricultural mechanization," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Yanlei Gao & Yuan Tian & Guangwan Tan & Xiudong Wang, 2023. "Impact of Urbanization on Cropping Structure: Empirical Evidence from China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-17, May.
    11. Wangda Liao & Fusheng Zeng & Meseret Chanieabate, 2022. "Mechanization of Small-Scale Agriculture in China: Lessons for Enhancing Smallholder Access to Agricultural Machinery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-21, June.
    12. Yuan Hu & Ziyang Zhou & Li Zhou & Caiming Liu, 2024. "Self-Owned or Outsourced? The Impact of Farm Machinery Adoption Decisions on Chinese Farm Households’ Operating Income," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-26, October.
    13. Ha, Wei & Yi, Junjian & Yuan, Ye & Zhang, Junsen, 2016. "The dynamic effect of rural-to-urban migration on inequality in source villages: System GMM estimates from rural China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 27-39.
    14. Qinhang Xu & Peixin Zhu & Liang Tang, 2022. "Agricultural Services: Another Way of Farmland Utilization and Its Effect on Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-15, July.
    15. Weiwei Wang & Zhihai Yang & Xiangqun Gu & Amin Mugera & Ning Yin, 2024. "How Farm Machinery Rental Services and Off-Farm Work Affect Household Income in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-16, September.
    16. Eliane El Badaoui & Eric Strobl & Frank Walsh, 2014. "The Impact of Internal Migration on Local Labour Markets in Thailand," Working Papers hal-04141356, HAL.
    17. Li Zhou & Zongzhi Liu & Xi Tian, 2024. "Threat beyond the border: Kim Jong-un’s nuclear tests and China’s rural migration," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(1), pages 1-40, March.
    18. Brzeska, Joanna & Fan, Shenggen & Halsema, Alex & Keyzer, Michiel, 2013. "From subsistence to profit: Transforming smallholder farms," Food policy reports 26, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    19. Caihua Xu & Qian Wang & Shah Fahad & Masaru Kagatsume & Jin Yu, 2022. "Impact of Off-Farm Employment on Farmland Transfer: Insight on the Mediating Role of Agricultural Production Service Outsourcing," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-16, October.
    20. Azam Khosravi Mashizi & Mohsen Sharafatmandrad & Sahar Karami Robati & Maryam Khosravi Mashizi & Esfandiar Jahantab, 2025. "Investigating the impact of multidimensional management on the willingness of villagers to protect the ecosystems and avoiding rural–urban migration," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(11), pages 27063-27094, November.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:8:p:3313-:d:1630412. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.