Perception and Level of Environmental Sustainability among Agricultural Business Operators

Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess the sustainability perception of agricultural enterprises in Konya province, one of the major agricultural production centers in Turkey. The study employed a stratified random sampling method and collected survey data through face-to-face interviews with 268 agricultural business owners. The study created a sustainability perception index by using literature data to calculate the environmental sustainability perception index. The sustainability perception index was calculated by dividing the total score from the likert scale, which measures sustainability perceptions, by the maximum total score that participants could receive. To determine the level of environmental sustainability in terms of application and use, the study surveyed the sustainability level status of the operators. The sustainability level index was calculated by dividing the total score that can be obtained by the score achieved. The perception index for sustainability also increases as the scale of the business increases. The data was obtained from perception surveys. The sustainability perception index score was 83.67% in the first group, 84.77% in the second group, 89.39% in the third group, and 88.67% in the fourth group. The average sustainability index score for all businesses was 86.62%.  The research results indicate a sustainability perception index of 67.59% compared to the business average perception index of 86.62%. The sustainability perception index is high among agricultural operators, indicating their awareness of sustainability issues. However, their level of implementation is insufficient. To improve the implementation of sustainability practices among agricultural operators, emphasis should be placed on education and dissemination activities.