Determining of Risk Sources and Risk Management Strategies in Dairy Farms: A Case of Çanakkale Province

This study was aimed to determine farmers’ risk sources and risk management strategies in dairy cattle farms in  Canakkale Province. Data were obtained from 302 farms selected by stratified random sampling method from dairy  farms in Biga and Can districts of Canakkale province in Turkey between May 2017 and September 2017. Descriptive  statistics and factor analysis were used to analyze the data. The results of this study show that the most important risk  source for farmers was lack of credit availability. This risk was followed by inadequacy of artificial insemination and  increase in debt amount. Parasite control was the most important risk management for farmers. This was followed by  off-farm work, off-farm investment and on-farm measures. As a solution to the lack of credit availability, it should be  provided to ease of repayment in credit use and to inceasing opportunities to loan use with low interest rate of farmers.  In terms of parasite control in farms, it is important to the use of regularly parasitic drugs and determining of an effective  parasite control program. As a result, it is expected to contribute to farmers and agricultural policy makers of the findings  of this research.