FARM LEVEL ANALYSIS OF PESTICIDE USE IN SWEET CHERRY (Prunus avium L.) GROWING IN WEST MEDITERRANEAN REGION OF TURKEY

OpenAlex İngilizce

Pesticides are chemicals that are used to control and avoid fruit losses from pests and diseases in fruit production. Various kinds of pesticides have been used in sweet cherry growing to increase yield and farm income in Turkey. This study was conducted to analyze the farm-level of pesticide use in sweet cherry growing in West Mediterranean region of Turkey. Data was collected from 89 growers using the simple random sampling method. Results of this research show that the average usage of agricultural chemicals are 53 349.50 g per hectare as an active ingredient in the sweet cherry growing. The percentages of used agricultural chemicals are 79.82, 19.11 and 1.07% copper sulphates, pesticides and winter & mineral oils +DNOC, respectively. It was calculated that economic loss was €162.92 per hectare due to overdose of agricultural chemicals. Chi square test analysis showed that, there was a significant relationship between farmers' pesticide use practices and farm size, listening agriculture related program on radio, information needs in disease, insects and pests management, applying protective pesticides and use personal protecting equipment.