Abstract:

Due to low domestic production, the domestic peanut demand cannot be met and therefore, foreign trade always gives deficit in favor of import. Peanut is an important raw material for food industry, and Turkey has potential to increase her peanut production capacity. However, up to now, neglecting this production unit and not taking required incentives and guidance for producers have created current problems. To explore these problems, the effects of ecologic and topographic structures of Osmaniye (native land of peanut) and farmers' socioeconomic and demographic features on the productivity of farms have been analyzed by logistic analysis. According to logistic analysis results; as farmers' age get older and peanut plantation increases, farms' productivity success decreases. However, the success in productivity of peanut farms increase if farmers use contract farming, high quality seed, increase family labor amount, invest in new technologies, and improve education levels. In addition, the ecologic, soil and local characteristics of Düziçi Central District have positive effect on the farm's productivity. To shrink the deficit in foreign trade of peanut, firstly, farms with suitable ecologic and topographic characteristics should adopt peanut as an alternative product. Secondly, socio-economic and demographic characteristics of farmers must be used efficiently in order to reach optimum production level. Hence, the target supply level can be reached since the production cost can be minimized, and the competition and bargaining power of farmers can increase.

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