Assessment of farmland fragmentation and the role of the legal regulations for the prevention of farmland fragmentation in Türki̇ye

This research delves into the urgent issue of farmland fragmentation in Türkiye, highlighting the necessity for farmland consolidation and the crucial role of legal regulation in preventing farmland fragmentation. Despite official data revealing an average farmland size of 7.0 parcels per household in 2016, small-scale farms persist. This issue, a significant obstacle for the agricultural sector, requires immediate attention. Given the uneven land distribution, the study employed mixed methods using primary and secondary data, revealing the need to increase the average farm size. The findings underscore the urgent nature of land fragmentation, exacerbated by population growth and lack of motivation in agricultural employment opportunities. Addressing these issues is not straightforward, as they involve legal complexities. However, the research proposes that land consolidation projects and regulations authorising land transfers based on farm size, revenue, and economic integrity could significantly alleviate arable land fragmentation due to inheritance and sales. The study also highlights the potential positive impact of these new regulations on land tenure, land management, local land markets and land resources sustainability. These findings are pivotal for comprehending the current state of land fragmentation and its implications for the agricultural sector in Türkiye. •Farmland fragmentation challenges are elaborated and factors that contributed to fragmentation were identified.•A mixed-method approach reveals the influence of inheritance on farmland fragmentation.•Support legal regulations that prevent farmland fragmentation.•Land assets transfer and inheritance practices increase Türkiye’s farmland fragmentation.•Collaborative measures of technical and legal experts in addressing Turkey’s farmland fragmentation challenges.