Abstract
This study investigates the impacts of the February 2023 earthquake on rural agricultural systems in Hatay, Turkey. Despite the growing body of literature on disaster resilience, context-specific studies that systematically integrate local stakeholder perspectives into agricultural recovery strategies remain limited. To address this gap, the study employs a qualitative focus group methodology involving 72 participants – 40% academics, 35% practitioners, and 25% local stakeholders – organized into 8 thematic groups representing key stages of the agricultural value chain. Data were collected at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University in February 2024 and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework. The findings reveal severe impacts on the agricultural sector, including the loss of 42% of cattle and 37% of sheep, damage to 60% of irrigation infrastructure, migration of 34% of the agricultural workforce, and disruption of 70% of agricultural input supply chains. Despite these challenges, several resilience factors emerged, including the mobilization of social capital, the expansion of women’s roles in farm management, and the adoption of technological adaptations. Based on these insights, the study proposes a three-tier policy framework encompassing immediate, medium-term, and long-term interventions, aligned with Turkey’s 11th Development Plan. By systematically integrating the perspectives of 72 stakeholders into post-disaster recovery frameworks, this study shows that participatory approaches enhance both policy relevance and implementation feasibility, offering original contributions to rural resilience literature and disaster recovery practice.