The Effects of Earthquakes on Occurring in Türkiye on Demographic Structure and Agricultural Sector

This study aims to provide information on the relationship between earthquake disasters, demographic structure, and the agricultural sector in Türkiye. Natural disasters such as earthquakes bring many social and economic consequences. These include changes in population structure and damage to agricultural systems. Agriculture is one of the sectors most affected by these disasters. Earthquakes can cause damage to agricultural infrastructure, livestock production, cultivated lands, and food supply chains. Additionally, the agriculture-based industry, especially food and textile sectors, may also be negatively affected. In countries where agriculture contributes significantly to national income, disasters can slow economic growth and rural development. In this study, several major earthquakes (magnitude ≥ 6.9) in Türkiye were evaluated in terms of their impacts on population and agricultural indicators. Simple and chain index calculations were made, and the Spearman rank correlation method was used to analyze the relationship between demographic changes and agricultural variables such as livestock numbers and crop production. The results show that there are strong positive correlations between population and indicators like cereals, fruits, and vegetables. It was found that earthquakes cause temporary or permanent migrations and disruptions in agricultural productivity. In addition, severe damage to rural infrastructure and livestock shelters were observed. The effect of public support and recovery efforts after the earthquakes was also evaluated. In conclusion, this study reveals that earthquakes significantly affect Türkiye’s agricultural sector and rural population. The findings emphasize the need to develop integrated rural and agricultural policies that consider disaster risks. This research can provide insight for future planning in food security and disaster resilience.