Determination of sufficient income farm size for sustainable development in agricultural enterprises in Aydın province

Purpose: This study investigates the economic size, sufficient income farm size, and sustainability of agricultural farms in Aydın Province, known for its diverse and intensive agricultural production. Design/Methodology/Approach: Data were collected via face-to-face surveys from 389 farms in 17 districts and 46 villages in 2022, using proportional sampling. Socio-economic characteristics were analyzed, and economic sizes were determined using ESU criteria. Income adequacy was assessed against the TURKSAT relative poverty line. Statistical methods, including ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Chi-Square tests, were employed to compare farm groups. Findings: Based on ESU, 30.85% of farms were large, 51.16% medium, and 18% small. Farms with agricultural incomes 15% below the poverty line were classified as insufficient. Sufficient income farms recorded a gross margin of 380 €/da/year and agricultural income of 299 €/da/year in 2022, while in 2024, these values were 13,300 TL/da/year and 10,465 TL/da/year, respectively. Farms with sufficient income exhibited greater economic size, income, and sustainability, while those below the threshold faced challenges in savings, investments, and self-sufficiency, limiting sustainable development. Originality/Value: This research uniquely integrates economic size, income adequacy, and sustainability in a high-potential agricultural region, addressing a gap in the literature by offering a comprehensive analysis of these dimensions.