FARMERS' DECISION-MAKING PROCESS LEADING CROP SELECTION IN TURKEY

Even though various methodologies have been applied to understand how farmers make decision, there is still a need to develop a realistic approach that provides a more robust operational definition and an accurate measurement of the factors that dominate the farmer's decision-making process. Improved clarity in meaning and relevance of decision factors will enable policy makers and extension specialist to be more effective in assisting farmers improve their capability in making decisions. The aim of this study is to investigate farmers' decision-making process to expose the factors that influence crop selection. The study also seeks to classify farmers into segments as it relates to the leading factors that farmers take into account when making decisions. Data were collected from a random sample of 165 cotton farmers in two cities of the coastal Aegean basin of Turkey. Factor analysis identified eight dimensions that affect farmers' decision-making process. Subsequent cluster analysis isolated four different farmers segments: Entrepreneurs, apprehensive traditionalist, pure traditionalist and socially influenced traditionalist. The knowledge generated by the study indicates that the underlying dimensions driving the farmers' decision making provided a deeper understanding of farmers' decision-making process leading crop selection than could be attained by examining each factor by itself.