The social and economic transformations that emerged after the COVID-19 pandemic have reignited interest in village life in Türkiye. During the pandemic, disruptions in food supply chains, combined with the overcrowded and fragile structures of cities, brought villages back into focus as attractive spaces for secure living and sustainable production. Village-centered agriculture, livestock and food production have now become as critical and strategic as energy. Therefore, there is a need for comprehensive policies that will make villages appealing, make the return to rural life permanent and reposition the village at the center of social production and everyday life.

Another factor accelerating this process is the recent economic contraction and loss of social status experienced by the middle classes. The erosion of the middle class in recent years has become increasingly evident, particularly in cities, due to high living costs, precarious employment and the erosion of real incomes. This process has weakened not only the economic but also the social and cultural power of the middle class. If supported by sound policies, the revitalization of villages as centers of production and life could become a new domain of empowerment for the middle class. This is because village-centered development has the capacity to attract not only those living in rural areas but also segments of the population in cities who are struggling to maintain their livelihoods or are economically constrained.

One of the notable dynamics in the recent rural landscape of Türkiye is that many families engaged in agriculture and livestock farming in villages have chosen to live in nearby urban centers, taking up low-paying jobs despite the modest income. These families do not entirely abandon their land or livestock; they continue production during the summer months or certain periods of the year. However, this dual mode of living poses a serious obstacle to establishing continuous, productive and comprehensive rural production. While agricultural production requires continuity, the dispersal of the workforce into insecure urban jobs prevents the rural economy from realizing its full potential. To overcome this structural barrier, village life must be transformed from a source of supplementary or seasonal income into a full-time, sustainable and attractive livelihood model. To achieve this, it is essential to make agriculture and livestock farming in villages more secure and profitable than low-wage urban employment – and to demonstrate that such a transformation is indeed possible.

The frequently voiced complaint among villagers – "our products don’t bring in money; they don’t even cover the costs” – has further deepened this challenging picture. High input costs, dependence on intermediaries within the marketing chain and the fragility of small-scale production structures prevent producers from receiving fair compensation for their labor. In contrast, it is noteworthy that in recent years, wealthier segments of society have begun to view agriculture and livestock as profitable investment fields. Particularly around Istanbul, there has been a growing trend toward large farms, organic agriculture ventures and branded meat and dairy production facilities. Backed by significant capital, technology, logistics and branding power, these large enterprises are able to generate profits from the same products that small-scale producers struggle to sustain.

In addition to this broader picture, recent investments in greenhouse cultivation and soilless agriculture – particularly in the southern regions of Türkiye and around Antalya – have drawn significant attention. Thanks to modern greenhouse technologies, production can now continue for most of the year, reducing dependence on climatic conditions. Beyond that, high value-added crops such as avocados and dragon fruit – traditionally outside the scope of conventional agricultural production – are being cultivated and largely exported. These products not only enhance Türkiye’s export potential but also create new models of production and income in rural areas. However, to extend these opportunities to small-scale producers, it is essential to strengthen knowledge transfer, financial support mechanisms and marketing infrastructure.

Water resources play a decisive role in this process. With climate change, rainfall patterns across many regions of Türkiye are becoming increasingly irregular, leading to serious risks of drought and water scarcity. In the basins where agricultural production is most intense, groundwater reserves are rapidly depleting due to excessive use. Although greenhouse and soilless farming investments can enable more efficient water use, equitable and sustainable management of water resources is essential for large-scale production. Therefore, it is imperative to expand modern irrigation systems that prioritize water conservation, promote rainwater harvesting practices and treat water as a strategic resource in agricultural production.

Another manifestation of climate change is the increasing frequency of forest fires. In recent years, Türkiye has faced numerous large-scale forest fires, particularly in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions. The destruction of forests not only devastates ecosystems but also threatens agricultural lands, rural economies and village life. Villages play a critical role in the protection and reforestation of forests. Therefore, it is essential to integrate villagers into early warning systems for fires, involve them actively in firefighting teams and ensure that rural development policies are closely aligned with forest conservation efforts.

The village-centered development process will also offer an alternative to the shrinking employment opportunities for the middle class in urban areas. With the expansion of digital infrastructure into villages, remote work can enable middle-class professions to be carried out in rural settings as well. This would allow the middle class to establish a presence in villages not only through agriculture and livestock farming but also through knowledge and service sectors. Therefore, it would be unfair to consider village-centered development solely as the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The issue extends beyond production – it is directly linked to education, health, culture, environment, energy, transportation and social policies. For village-centered development to succeed in Türkiye, different ministries must work in coordination to design policies aligned toward a common goal.

For instance, education plays a critical role in addressing these challenges. The Village Life Centers we launched during our term at the Ministry hold strategic importance in this regard. These centers, established through the repurposing of unused village schools, serve not only for children’s education but also for adult agricultural training, vocational development and cultural activities. They also function as gathering places for village weddings and funerals. During our tenure, we revitalized 3,500 village schools, transforming them into Village Life Centers. At this stage, all village schools should be restored to serve similar purposes. In these highly functional Village Life Centers, training programs on agricultural technologies, sustainable production methods, water conservation, environmental awareness and cooperatives will enable villagers to participate more consciously in production. Thus, the village will not only be a site of production but also a center of learning, socialization and cultural exchange. In summary, Village Life Centers have the potential to overcome the fragmentation caused by dual living patterns and transform villages into continuous hubs of production and social development.

Access to modern health-care services is critically important for making village life more attractive. Mobile health units, the strengthening of the family medicine network and the implementation of programs specifically targeting women’s and children’s health in rural areas will significantly improve the quality of life in villages. In addition, early warning systems can be established to address health risks arising from climate change, such as new agricultural diseases. Similarly, policies that enhance the cultural and touristic appeal of villages can be implemented. Local festivals, gastronomy tourism, rural tourism projects and the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage can transform villages from mere sites of production into centers of culture and tourism. Such initiatives would also encourage members of the middle class to engage in entrepreneurial activities within rural settings.

Encouraging investments in renewable energy – such as solar and wind – can help reduce energy costs for villagers. This would not only make production more profitable but also transform villages into sustainable living centers. In particular, cooperative models can be promoted to enable villagers to produce their own energy. At the same time, adapting villages to climate change requires implementing programs that include modern irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting, erosion control and the active involvement of forest villagers in fire prevention and response. In this way, villages can become centers of both production and ecological preservation. Similarly, ensuring access to high-speed internet, establishing logistics hubs, developing cold-chain networks and strengthening village-city connections will allow villagers to sell their products at fair value.

To enhance the value of villagers’ labor, it is essential to strengthen cooperatives, support women’s cooperatives, expand e-commerce and logistics capabilities and encourage collaboration between large capital investors and rural producers. In this context, providing low-interest loans to small producers, granting tax exemptions to cooperatives and introducing incentive packages for the export of high value-added products can make rural labor more profitable. Additionally, entrepreneurship support programs can be developed to attract the middle class back to rural areas. Investments that ensure energy independence, technologies that improve water efficiency and projects that make forest villagers active participants in wildfire prevention will all contribute to making village life permanently appealing.

In conclusion, to make village life attractive once again in Türkiye, policies must be implemented that not only encourage return migration but also enable continuous and profitable production in rural areas. Village-centered development must be regarded not merely as the responsibility of a single ministry but as part of a comprehensive government vision. Coordinated policies across various ministries – from education and health to energy and culture – can restore the village as a hub of vitality and opportunity. In this way, both rural production will be strengthened and the urban middle classes, who have lost ground in recent years, will find a new foundation for resilience. In short, through a more comprehensive policy framework, our villages can once again become the centers of production, ecological balance and social resilience in our country.