Young Farmer in Burdur Grows Production in Family Business
· NTV Ekonomi
Emine Kaya, 23, took over the management of the farm in 2018 after her father's accident. She is pursuing agricultural education while continuing production in the fields and barn with modern livestock goals.
The Young Farmer's Challenging Responsibility
Emine Kaya, 23, residing in Karaçal village near Burdur's center, took over the management of the family farm after her father, Mehmet Kaya, suffered a severe work accident in 2018. Having grown up amidst agricultural activities and animal husbandry from a young age, Kaya undertook a significant responsibility at a young age to ensure her family's livelihood. Farmer Emine Kaya described the challenging process and her commitment to production in the following words:
"My childhood and days were always spent in the fields. Currently, I wake up in the morning and go to the field. In the evening, I come back to the field again. My day is constantly spent in the fields. The period after my father's work accident brought me a little closer to farming. Because someone had to take on all the burden from my father, and I took that burden upon myself. Since 2018, I have been handling the entire process, from harvest to field preparation. Of course, there are days when we get very tired. There are even times when we come to the point of giving up, but because I love this job, I start the day again with great enthusiasm. That's why I continue my path even if I'm tired."
Labor Between Field and Barn
The young producer personally manages field preparation, planting, irrigation, pest control, and harvesting processes from the early hours of the morning, taking the wheel of the tractor. In addition to crop production, Kaya is also involved in cattle farming, meticulously managing the daily feeding, milking, and monitoring of births for the animals. Kaya continues her intense work between the field and the barn without interruption, ensuring the continuity of production in the village by facing all difficulties. By working hands-on in the field, the young farmer maintains the productivity of the family business and plays an active role in the uninterrupted continuation of production in rural areas.
Strong Harmony of Education and Production
Despite her intense work tempo, Emine Kaya does not neglect her education. She continues her academic education as a 2nd-year student in the Agricultural Technologies Department at Anadolu University Open Education Faculty. The young farmer blends the practical experience gained in the field with the theoretical knowledge acquired at university, consciously applying agricultural techniques on the ground. Successfully managing both her education and farm operations simultaneously, Kaya exemplifies young people in rural areas participating in production through agricultural education.
Emphasis on Commitment to the Land and Determination
Farmer Emine Kaya stated that she does not pay attention to negative comments from her surroundings while working in the rural area, expressing her commitment to the land and her determination to work with the following words:
"The most common cliché I hear from my surroundings is 'get a secure job, don't be disgraced in this life,' but I love this disgrace. This is truly the life I love, and because I do the job I love, even if I get tired, it doesn't affect me much. Currently, if you have land, a field, or a handful of soil in the village, you should evaluate it. The peace in the village, doing your own work, or consuming what you produce is truly much more important than anything else. Once you taste it, you don't want to leave it. I sometimes receive negative reactions from my surroundings, but these do not deter me. I know very well that I will not be happy working in the city. I don't want to live a life where I'm not happy. That's why being in the village doesn't deter me. People's reactions don't deter me either. I truly love this job."
Modern Agriculture Goals and Sharing
Kaya shares her daily production activities in the village with her followers on social media, sharing her experiences in agriculture and animal husbandry through entertaining videos. Farmer Emine Kaya shared her future vision and business plans with the following words:
"When I look at people, there is a large audience curious about village life. I film my daily tasks and what I do, and I convey it in a somewhat entertaining way. People are genuinely curious about my life. I receive very good feedback. I have reached a good audience. I want to continue this way. My goal is to have a large enterprise in farming, as I also do animal husbandry. I plan to move away from old, primitive methods in this enterprise and modernize it a bit more."