What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to explore the unrecorded barter exchanges between rural villages and their impact on sustainability and local economies.

February 8, 2026Open Access

Barter Beyond Markets: Informal Coordination and Rural Sustainability in Northeastern Turkey

SKSaffet KARAYAMAN

Key Points

The research aims to explore the unrecorded barter exchanges between rural villages and their impact on sustainability and local economies.
Conducted an interpretive case study based on qualitative research methods.
Utilized semi-structured in-depth interviews with participants involved in barter exchanges.
Performed field observations to gather data on the barter process.
Identified food exchange as a key alternative mechanism reducing food waste in rural settings.
Found that barter relies on informal structures that adapt to local conditions and traditions.
Demonstrated the role of social trust in sustaining these informal exchange practices.

Abstract

This study examines the traditional food exchange practice carried out between villages in the Aşağıırmaklar basin in the Ardanuç district of Artvin and villages around Ardahan during the autumn months in the context of rural sustainability, alternative economy, and livelihood strategies. The aim of the research is to reveal the structure, functioning, and sustainability of this exchange system, which has not been documented in the literature before, in its socioeconomic, cultural, and managerial dimensions. The barter practice in question involves exchanging fruits such as apples, pears, plums, and mulberries that grow naturally in the Ardanuç region, along with molasses and dried products made from them, for wheat, barley, and various animal products grown in the surrounding villages of Ardahan. The barter process operates without any official institution, written contract, or formal organization, based on reciprocity, trust, and unwritten rules. The research was structured as an interpretive case study within the framework of a qualitative research approach. Data were obtained through semi-structured in-depth interviews and field observations with five individuals actively involved in the barter process. The collected qualitative data were analyzed to reveal the analytical dimensions through which the exchange practice functions as a strategy for life and livelihood. The findings show that food exchange offers an alternative exchange mechanism that reduces food waste in rural areas and utilizes local production surpluses. Furthermore, it was found that the practice is sustained within an informal yet functional coordination structure that adapts to geographical and seasonal conditions, and is transmitted across generations through social relationships based on mutual trust. The study highlights the strategic importance of non-market exchange practices in rural areas in terms of sustainability, local economy, and community resilience.

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