Paper Title
Assessment of Impact of Rural Development Investments Support Programme on Tea Processors in Turkiye

Abstract
Turkiye is one of the 10 most important fresh tea producers in the world. It is processed by agricultural-based industrial enterprises that process fresh tea and the product is offered to the end consumer. Various supports are implemented all over the world for the development and increase in the number of agriculture-based industries, which make a significant contribution to rural development. Within the scope of the rural development investment support program implemented in Turkey, investment supports are given to enterprises that process fresh tea. The benefit of tea processors, which is an important added value element for both domestic consumption and export, from these supports and the effects of the supports are not fully known, as in many sectors. For this reason, the study aimed to examine the benefit status of fresh tea processors from KKYDP and the change caused by the supports and to determine its effect. In the research, data were obtained from face-to-face surveys conducted with 17 private fresh tea processors operating and receiving support in Rize province within the scope of the project. Socio-economic analysis was carried out with descriptive statistics and the situations of the examined enterprises were revealed. The difference-in-difference method was used to determine the impact of the supports provided within the scope of the project. According to the research findings, although the general satisfaction with the investment support provided is high, satisfaction with the grant scope and payment period and procedure is low. High contribution margins and speculative increases due to support in the market are seen as problems. The asset size of fresh tea processors benefiting from the grant support increased compared to previous years, and there was an increase in their stocks and current and fixed assets, respectively, due to their facilities, machinery and equipment. The turnover of businesses benefiting from investment support has increased by 80% compared to the previous year, and more than twice as much as those who did not benefit from investment support. It has been determined that the investment supports provided to fresh tea processors are at a good level. Reducing and accelerating the procedures related to the support program, diversifying the support will enable more businesses to benefit, and taking measures to prevent speculative price increases in the market will positively affect the sector. Keywords - Tea, Tea Factory, Impact Evaluation, Difference of Difference, Rize.