Mardin İli Üzüm Üreticilerinin Tarımsal Bilinç Düzeyleri ve Eğitim İhtiyaçlarının Belirlenmesi

Abstract

Mardin Province is one of Türkiye’s prominent viticultural regions, distinguished by its unique microclimatic characteristics and agricultural diversity. This study aims to assess the current knowledge levels of grape producers in Mardin, identify the challenges they face in viticultural practices, and determine their educational needs. Based on stratified random sampling, survey data were collected from 136 grape producers. The study evaluates producers’ levels of agricultural awareness, their sources of information, and their specific training requirements. The findings indicate that 92.6% of the participants had never received any formal training related to viticulture. Among the expressed training priorities, pest and disease management ranked highest, highlighting a significant lack of technical knowledge. Additionally, the high level of interest in accessing agricultural information through social media platforms reflects the growing role of digital channels in informal agricultural learning. The data also reveal a significant relationship between farm size and production purpose: in small-scale farms, 54.4% of grape production is allocated to household consumption, whereas this rate drops to 16.9% in large-scale farms. This distinction suggests that smallholders are predominantly subsistence-oriented, while larger enterprises focus on commercial production. In light of these findings, it is essential to enhance the decision-making capacity of local producers by supporting them with modular, practice-oriented training programs that are sensitive to local needs. Strengthening agricultural extension services will not only improve production efficiency but also contribute to rural development and agricultural sustainability. The data obtained from this study offer a valuable basis for shaping regionally responsive agricultural policies.