Measuring livestock farmers' effect on sustainable agricultural and rural development

This study was conducted to determine livestock raising farmers' effect on sustainable use of agricultural and natural resources in the rural areas of Kahramanmaras Province of Turkey. The minimum usable sample needed was 208 based on stratified sampling technique. A farmers' self-evaluation sustainable agricultural index was developed and applied to farmers located in four different districts of Kahramanmaras Province. In terms of sustainable agricultural practices included in the index, farmers who raised livestock were compared with farmers who grew crops only. The binary logistic regression procedure was employed to determine the influence of each selected sustainable agricultural practice on the probability that farmers raise livestock in their farms. Results showed that as farmers grow legume crops, use animal manure, take adequate measures to protect publicly owned rangelands, personally involve in commodity marketing, not use fallow, and properly use farm machinery and equipment, they tend to raise livestock in their farms. Therefore, livestock raising farmers make significant contributions to sustainable use of agricultural and natural resources.