EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF AGRICULTURE-BASED INVESTMENTS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: YOZGAT PROVINCE SAMPLE, TURKEY.

In this study, the role and importance of agriculture-based investments in sustainable development were investigated. For this purpose, a situation analysis of these matters was conducted for Yozgat province, which is from the 1st Degree Priority Regions in development. In the study, interviews were conducted with managers or expert personnel of institutions and organizations related to the subject. Data obtained via the interview were the primary data of the study. Papers and books published related to the subject, and data obtained from the database of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and the Turkish Statistical Institute (TSI) were also the secondary data of this study. According to the research findings, it is seen that significant investments based on agriculture have been made in the province. Among these investments, there are sugar factory (2 units), Kabalı Integrated Orchard (Turkey's largest integrated orchard), geothermal greenhouses, flour production (12 units), milk and milk products (12 units), meat and meat products (11 units). and fruit and vegetable processing-packaging facilities (4 units). With investment depended on agriculture, there have been positive developments in per capita gross domestic product, employment, labor force participation rate and unemployment rate in the province. While in 2004, gross domestic product per capita was USD 3,272, employment rate was 31.6%, the participation rate to labor force was 36.2% and unemployment rate was 12.8%, in 2021 these were, respectively, USD 4,869, 48.5%, 55.1% and 12%. In Kabalı Integrated Orchard, which is one of the largest orchards in Turkey, in addition to orcharding, there have been animal breeding activities such as goose, sheep and beekeeping. The cherry orchard located in the integrated facility is the third-largest cherry orchard in Europe. This study is important in terms of the sustainability of investments depending on agriculture and the formation of strong expectations for rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]