The Effects of Perceptions of Economic Sustainability and Barriers on Organic Farming Implementation

This study proposes an analysis of the impact of farmers ' demographic characteristics and their perceptions of economic sustainability and barriers on organic farming implementation in Turkey's Thrace region. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 400 farmers through surveys and analyzed using SPSS v27 The findings revealed that age, education level, land ownership, and organic farming training were significant predictors of adoption. Perceptions of economic sustainability positively influenced adoption, while perceptions of barriers had a negative effect. The qualitative findings identified certification costs, insufficient credit opportunities, and difficulties in accessing organic inputs as the most common challenges faced by farmers. The most requested forms of support included product purchase guarantees, financial aid during certification, and fertilizer-pesticide subsidies. This study provides a foundation for developing policies and programs to promote organic farming in Turkey, contributing to the country's sustainable agriculture goals.