What Is Land Consolidation?

Consolidation is a process carried out to ensure that agricultural land is used more productively and sustainably. Agricultural land that is in scattered, small and unproductive parcels is combined so that farmers can farm on larger and more orderly parcels. In this way sowing and planting become easier, and activities such as irrigation, fertilising and harvesting become more efficient.

The main benefits of agricultural consolidation are as follows:

• Higher productivity: farming on larger parcels saves on labour and cost.
• Infrastructure development: it becomes easier to set up infrastructure systems such as irrigation, roads and drainage.
• Cost savings: the losses of transport, time and cost between scattered parcels are reduced to a minimum.
• Rural development: economic activity in rural areas increases and a more orderly farming system is formed.

Consolidation is organised by institutions coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the views of landowners are taken during the process.

The Purpose of Consolidation

The most important purpose of consolidation is to bring together fragmented parcels that have lost their economic function so that the farmer gets more yield at less cost. For example, setting up separate irrigation systems for a highly fragmented piece of land is far more costly than arranging modern irrigation for a single large field. Consolidation is carried out to increase productivity and make land use easier.

What Steps Does the Consolidation Process Consist Of?

1. Planning and Preparation

The area to be consolidated is chosen from regions where the land is scattered, small and unproductive. The parcel structures, soil productivity and infrastructure possibilities of the region are analysed; landowners are informed and their participation is ensured.

2. Cadastre and Mapping

The current state of the land is mapped in detail by cadastre teams, and the boundaries of each parcel are determined. The value of each parcel is established according to soil quality, size and location. This grading is critical for the fair conduct of the process.

3. New Parcel Planning

Small and scattered parcels are combined to design larger, orderly parcels; road and irrigation infrastructure that will make farming easier is planned. The prepared parcellation plan is put on public display.

4. Ownership and Distribution

The distribution of the new parcels is made according to the value of the old parcels and the farmers' preferences; the title deed transactions are completed and the new deeds are handed to their owners.

5. Infrastructure Construction and Conclusion

Roads are opened for the new parcels and modern irrigation infrastructure is set up. At the end of the process, inspections are carried out and farmers begin production on their new, larger parcels.

Because consolidation requires careful planning and ownership arrangements, it can be a process that takes a long time; but once completed, it provides lasting benefit both for agricultural productivity and for land values in the region. From an investor's point of view, parcels becoming more orderly and road-fronting in consolidated areas supports appreciation. In districts with broad farmland such as Kandıra, arrangements of this kind are an area of opportunity for the investor; to get to know the area more closely, you can look at our Kandıra guide.