Farmers’ Perspectives Toward Organizing a Cotton Producers’ Union in Şanlıurfa, Türkiye

Authors

• Ismail Efe, Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Harran University, 63050 Şanlıurfa, Türkiye
• Mehmet Cançelik, Department of Social Science Voc. Sch., Harran University, 63200 Şanlıurfa, Türkiye
• Mehmet Reşit Sevinç, Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Harran University, 63050 Şanlıurfa, TürkiyeFollow

Publication Date

3-1-2026

Abstract

This study examines the attitudes of cotton producers in Şanlıurfa toward establishing a producers’ union to address structural challenges in Türkiye’s leading cotton production region. Şanlıurfa contributes approximately 40% of Türkiye’s cotton output, yet lacks organizational frameworks for its nearly 20,000 producers who face significant risks including price volatility, high input costs, and limited market access. The research utilized primary data collected through face-to-face surveys with 165 cotton producers selected via convenience sampling. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), independent samples t-tests, and one-way ANOVA. The findings revealed a significant paradox: while producers demonstrate moderately positive attitudes toward union establishment (mean: 3.89) and strongly believe unions would enhance marketing opportunities (mean: 3.81) and improve pricing (mean: 3.70), their willingness to actively participate in union formation is considerably lower (mean: 3.14). Three critical human capital factors emerged as significant predictors of positive attitudes: higher education levels (p = 0.032), prior training on agricultural organization (p = 0.007), and intermediate farming experience of 21 to 30 yr (p = 0.009). The study demonstrates how sociocultural context shapes organizational preferences, suggesting that producer union models with centralized management structures are more compatible with Şanlıurfa’s traditional hierarchical society than democratic cooperative models requiring extensive participatory decision-making. These findings contribute to organizational development theory by highlighting the importance of institutional compatibility between organizational models and local social structures. Targeted capacity-building programs, pioneer farmer strategies, and hybrid organizational designs that combine modern management practices with familiar authority structures are recommended to facilitate successful collective action in such traditional agricultural societies.

Recommended Citation

Efe, Ismail; Cançelik, Mehmet; and Sevinç, Mehmet Reşit (2026) "Farmers’ Perspectives Toward Organizing a Cotton Producers’ Union in Şanlıurfa, Türkiye," The Philippine Agricultural Scientist: Vol. 109: No. 2, Article 8.
Available at: https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/pas/vol109/iss2/8