Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
BIOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE & HORTICULTURE, cilt.26, sa.3, ss.235-267, 2008 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
The aim of this study was to compare organic hazelnut fanning with conventional production based on data drawn from questionnaires. The Black Sea region of Turkey is the highest producer of hazelnuts in the world, where production is carried out by small family farms. Hazelnut production is the single most important economic activity (monoculture) and income resource of the households in the region. In 2006, 620 farmers produced 7150 of organic hazelnuts oil 4699 ha of land. Sample farms were selected using the stratified sampling method. Financial and physical data were collected front the farmers using a questionnaire and through personal interviews. The results of a three-year study indicate that yield of organic farms was 12.4% higher in the Ordu-Samsun region (Eastern Black Sea Region) and 1.2% lower in the Duzce region (Western Black Sea Region) than on conventional farms; and the price received by organic farmers was 8.1% and 1.5% higher, respectively, than that received by conventional producers. The gross margin per hectare of plantation area in organic fanning was 12.0% and the net margin was 117.7% higher than that of conventional farms in the Ordu-Samsun region, whereas they were 0.3% and 2.2% higher than that of conventional farming in the Dame region. The results indicated that organic hazelnut farming has made a positive contribution to the economies of farms in general. The key requirements for the further development of organic fanning would be centred on farm diversification, increased premium prices and governmental support, as well as improving the practices of organic cultivation and orchard management. On the other hand, enhancement of organic fanning in the region in the short term will be limited by low domestic and foreign demand, low price premiums, a lack of state support and the technical and financial capacities of the companies contracted with the producers.