Abstract:

Agriculture is one of the oldest primary economic activities in the world, and is the most important means of production for human life. Suitable climatic conditions, fertile agricultural lands, and water resources play an active role in agricultural production. Located in the transition zone between the Black Sea Region and the Central Anatolian Region of Turkey, Tokat has a rich hydrography network and fertile agricultural lands. Despite its current potential, insufficient provision of irrigation facilities to agricultural lands reduces the efficiency of crop production. In contrast, alternating cultivation and fallow practices in dry agrarian areas cause hundreds of acres of land to be excluded from agriculture every year. In order to ensure the continuity of production in dry agrarian areas, new products should be grown following the ecological demands of the region. This study aims to analyze the suitability of lavender, a plant with low soil selectivity and broad usage areas and high economic return, in Tokat as an alternative agricultural product. For this purpose, the compatibility of the lavender plant's ecological demands with the region's ecological conditions was examined. Geographical information systems (GIS) techniques and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) analysis method were used while creating the database and layers of the parameters used in the study. As a result of the analysis, it has been determined that 29% of the dry farming areas are suitable for lavender cultivation. Preferring lavender, a perennial plant, instead of products such as wheat and barley currently produced in these fields will essentially eliminate fallow agriculture and contribute to sustainable rural development.

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