Organic Farming on the Urban Fringe and the Factors Affecting Its Continuity: The Case of Bursa

Abstract

In recent years, the rapid expansion of urban areas and the concomitant reduction in agricultural land have raised concerns about food security. Access to healthy food has emerged as a significant concern, particularly in metropolitan areas where locally produced food is limited. The sustainability of agricultural land in the urban fringe and the search for solutions to improve local food systems are prominent issues on the agendas of many countries. In this context, the objective of the article is to gain insight into the development of organic farming activities in the periphery of metropolitan cities, in the case of Bursa. The study's objective was to ascertain the spatial characteristics of organic production in Bursa. Furthermore, a survey was conducted with organic producers to ascertain the micro-scaled factors influencing the continuity of organic agriculture, employing the decision tree model. Consequently, the organic production in Bursa is dispersed, characterized by small-scale enterprises, and concentrated in rural settlements around Uludağ. The analysis indicates that the primary factor influencing the continuation of organic production in the province is the age of the producers. An examination of the structure of organic production reveals that peasant farmers conduct organic production with a traditional agricultural background at the request of the buyer company. While this relationship model appears beneficial for small producers in maintaining organic agriculture, it does not result in a change in income or skills for small producers. Instead, it creates a dependency on the buyer, and farmers cannot fulfill the requirements of organic agriculture without external support. As a result, these producers may revert to conventional production from organic production. In Bursa, a limited number of large-scale organic producers control the entire production process. These producers demonstrate greater resilience in the sector and a stronger inclination to continue organic farming than their contracted counterparts. Consequently, it is evident that human and social capital must be reinforced and that agricultural subsidies are invaluable in mitigating the vulnerability resulting from the scarcity of social and financial resources in the region where small-scale enterprises are concentrated. Furthermore, it is essential to transform organic agriculture into a social practice involving young producers.

Keywords

• Organic farming
• Local food systems
• Bursa
• Turkey

Supporting Institution

TÜBİTAK

Project Number

122K020

Ethical Statement

Ethics Committee for Social and Human Sciences Research at Yıldız Technical University, dated 31/08/2021

Metropol Çeperinde Organik Tarım ve Devamlılığını Etkileyen Faktörler: Bursa Örneği

Abstract

Son yıllarda kent nüfusunun artması, tarım alanlarının yapılaşmaya açılması, kırsal alanlarda yaşayanların kente göç etmesi gıda güvenliğiyle ilgili endişeleri beraberinde getirmiştir. Bu noktada tarım topraklarının sürdürülebilirliği ve yerel gıda sistemleri kentsel politikaların gündeminde yer almaya başlamıştır. Özellikle üretimin kısıtlı olduğu büyük şehirlerde, sağlıklı gıdaya erişim başat konulardan biri haline gelmiş, yerel yönetimler bu konularda çözüm arayışlarına girmiştir. Bu bağlamda, makalede büyük şehirlerin çeperinde organik tarım faaliyetlerinin gelişimi, kentsel nüfusun yoğun olduğu Bursa Metropolü üzerinden ele alınmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında Bursa’da organik üretimin mekânsal özellikleri tespit edilmiş, üreticilerle anket çalışması yapılarak organik tarımın devamlılığını etkileyen üretici ve üretime dair mikro ölçekli yapısal faktörler karar ağacı modeliyle belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, Bursa’da organik üretimin dağınık, küçük ölçekli olduğu ve Uludağ yakın çevresinde bulunan kırsal yerleşmelerde yoğunlaştığı görülmektedir. İlde organik üretime devam etme eğilimini en çok etkileyen faktörün yaş olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Organik üretim yapısına bakıldığında, geleneksel tarım geçmişine sahip deneyimli köylü çiftçilerin alıcı firmanın talebiyle faaliyeti gerçekleştirdiği izlenmektedir. Bu ilişki modeli küçük üreticilerin organik tarımı sürdürmelerinde olumlu gibi görünmekle beraber, gelirlerinde ve becerilerinde büyük bir değişiklik yaratmamaktadır. Diğer taraftan alıcı bağımlı bir ilişki ortaya çıkmakta, çiftçi tek başına kaldığında organik tarımın gereklerini yerine getirememektedir. Sonuçta bu üreticiler organik üretimden konvansiyonel üretime geri dönebilmektedir. Bursa’da tarladan tüketiciye kadar olan sürecin kontrolünü elinde bulunduran az sayıda organik üretici bulunmaktadır. Bunların sektördeki dayanıklılığı ve organik tarıma devam etme eğilimleri sözleşmeli üreticilere göre daha yüksektir. Dolayısıyla küçük ölçekli işletmelerin yoğunlaştığı bölgede kısıtlı sosyal ve finansal kaynakların yarattığı kırılganlığı gidermek ve organik tarımı genç üreticilerin dahil olduğu toplumsal bir pratik haline dönüştürmek için beşeri ve sosyal sermayenin güçlendirilmesi gerektiği, tarımsal desteklerin değerli olduğu anlaşılmaktadır.

Keywords

• Organik tarım
• Bursa
• Türkiye
• Yerel gıda sistemi

Supporting Institution

TÜBİTAK

Project Number

122K020

Ethical Statement

31.08.2021 tarihli Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi Sosyal ve Beşeri Bilimler Araştırmaları Etik Kurulu.

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