Ipard Supported Beekeeping Businesses' Socio-economical Structure and Problems: A Case Study of Van

Abstract

In this study, IPARD (Instrument for Precession on Agricultural and Rural Development) promoted businesses are examined in Van province based on investments on agricultural businesses to restructure and upgrade to community standards. The aim of this study is to determine not only whether IPARD programme has led the businesses modernization or improved the number of the enterprises but also defining the problems by examining the business managers’ socioeconomically statuses and therefore suggesting solutions, in Van Province, holds an important place in honey production throughout Turkey. The study was conducted on full count method of 94 businesses through filled questionnaires based on 2016’s production data. The mean age of the business managers is 36,4 and men/women percentage is 79% to 21 % respectively. 43% of the managers are found to live on by just beekeeping, while 57% has off-farm income. Examined businesses owners’ questionnaires showed 71% are pleased to do beekeeping and the rest not. Government supported businesses percentage is 19, while 89% is not supported by the government. When the educational level is examined 69% of the businesses had had some education about beekeeping, while 31% had not had any.