Determination of Socio-Economic Characteristics, Farming Structures and Problems of Women Farmers Marketing Milk and Dairy Products in Periodic Markets: A Case of Isparta Province

Marketing is very important in milk and dairy products, which are a product group with a perishable quality. It is known that women farmers play an important role in ensuring food security and safety in our country, where small family businesses are common in milk production. Women farmers play an important role in the marketing of milk and dairy products obtained from the milk they process in periodic markets and make significant contributions to the family economy. In this study, it was aimed to determine the socio-economic characteristics, farming structures, farming and marketing problems of women farmers who market milk and dairy products in the periodic markets established in the city center of Isparta. For this purpose, the data obtained by conducting a survey with 74 women farmers who market open milk and dairy products in the periodic markets established in the city center of Isparta were analyzed. According to the findings of the research, the average number of cattle is 7.36 heads, the average number of milked cows is 6.81 heads, the average time worked to produce dairy products is 2.59 hours/day, and the average amount of milk produced is 56.42 kg/farm. It has been determined that 87.80% of the farm is milked by machine and 59.46% have closed barn type. It has been determined that 93.20% of the producers sell open milk in the market. It has been determined that 50% of the producers use the money they earn in purchasing animal feed. It has been determined that the most important problem faced by the producers in the market is the problem of finding a place (18.90%). Safe food production includes not only the production phase but also the marketing process of the product. For this reason, it is important to review the marketing of milk and dairy products, which are traditionally marketed in periodic markets in Isparta, in terms of food safety and to improve the marketing conditions of women farmers.