A regional comparative analysis of factors affecting farmers’ decision to benefit from milk incentive premium in Turkey

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to determine the factors affecting farmers’ decision to benefit from milk 
incentive premium. The study was carried out in the Northwest region of Turkey, which is considered one 
of the most productive milk producing region and the Northeast of Turkey, where the number of cattle is 
the highest. The number of survey conducted in the provinces of these two regions was determined to be 
540. Based on the data obtained, the regression analysis was performed using LIMDEP statistic package 
program with descriptive statistical analysis and univariate (binomial) probit procedure. According to the 
results of the study, it was determined that the farmers in the Northwest benefited more from the milk 
incentive premium, produce more milk for market, have higher levels of education than that of those in the 
Northeast, which was average. It was also observed that they generally have more productive breeds of 
cattle in their farms. Considering all these results, it could be thought that, it is necessary to perform 
animal growing more consciously in the Northeast and thus, it is a need in this region to train the animal 
growers, and the support policies should be restructured by considering regional differences.