A Qualitative Study on the Reception of New Organic Feed Production Techniques in Menemen, Aegean Region (ProRefine Project)

Summary

This study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the opinions of Turkish forage legumes and animal farmers, researchers and marketing staff in ProRefine Project Pilot area on the new developments in organic animal husbandry regarding sustainability and their approaches towards these new experimental steps. The farmers are in Menemen, İzmir, Aegean Region where ProRefine Project, which focused on Lucerne cultivation methods in order to enhance sustainability in organic farming, took place. Within the Project there were two meetings with these stakeholders, inquiring their ideas and opinions on the new horizon the Project brings. These meetings were cam recorded and transcribed. Critical questions supplied by the Project itself incited the stakeholders to explain their views in detail which calls for a qualitative study to bring forth a better grasp of mind-set of the future users of such technologies. By dissecting and realigning the answers of the sample group, the habits, attitudes and notions of the stakeholders are thoroughly comprehended to see the possible difficulties that new technologies and scientific approaches may face in Türkiye, and if there is also a tendency to try new ways for the sake of profitability and sustainability.