For many Syrian refugees in Turkey, the food and agriculture sector is an entry point into the Turkish economy because of the sector’s prominence in areas hosting large numbers of Syrian refugees, particularly in the south-eastern provinces and large cities, such as Istanbul and Izmir. Many of them are engaged in agricultural labour and micro-scale food businesses to make their living.

However, most of these opportunities are informal and seasonal, which often expose them to poor working conditions and low and irregular wages. This can also lead to lower wages for workers in local communities who are hosting them, fueling competition and social tensions. Limited access for women to property, equipment, and entrepreneurship opportunities is a significant challenge to starting their own businesses.