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 1980’s 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.