Analysis of Farmer Decisions in terms of Sustainability in Maize Production: The Case of Izmir Province
Project no. 21074 · Status: Kapanmış (Yayın bekleniyor) · 2020
Summary
<p> In this research, the decisions about crop selection, input use and marketing of 141 maize farmers determined by stratified random sampling method in Torbalı, Menderes, Tire and Bergama districts of Izmir were analyzed in terms of sustainability. The data of the research were compiled by the survey method and belong to the production period of 2021. The data were evaluated under three groups (<40 da, 40-130 da and ˃130 da) according to the farmers' maize production area. In the analysis of the data, firstly the socio-economic characteristics of the farms were revealed, then the technical and economic analysis of the maize production was performed. In the research, the criteria that farmers attach importance to in crop selection and crop pattern determination were analyzed with the Analytical Hierarchy Process. The criteria that farmers attach importance to in their decisions regarding maize production, input selection and chemical input preferences were analyzed by the Fuzzy Paired Comparison method. Attitudes and behaviors of farmers on different subjects were evaluated with a Five-point Likert Scale. In the research, technical efficiency analysis of maize production in the farms was also performed and Data Envelopment Analysis was used at this stage. According to the results of the research, the average mazie production area of the farmers is 96.50 decares. Average yield from maize is 1387.93 kg. Net profit from maize production was calculated as 906.06 TL/da. The technical efficiency levels of the farms were determined as 0.90 under constant return to scale conditions and 0.91 under variable return to scale conditions. It has been determined that the first choice of farmers among alternative crops in terms of price, cost, yield, level of knowledge and government support criteria is maize. The criterion that the farmers give the most importance when deciding to produce maize is the marketing opportunity. Water is the most important input for the farmers in maize production. The most important criterion in the selection of chemical inputs by the farmers is the price. Farmers do not find government support sufficient. The most common problem stated by farmers in maize production is the increase in input prices. In order to maintain self-sufficiency in mazie production, input and difference payment supports given to maize farmers should be increased.</p>