Perspectives of Farmers on the Decline in Pinus pinea Nut Yield and the Sustainability of the Production: A Case Study in Kozak Basin in Western Turkey

Sezgin Özden, Taner Okan, Seda Erkan Buğday and Coşkun Köse
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Sezgin Özden: Faculty of Forestry, Çankırı Karatekin University, 18200 Çankırı, Turkey
Taner Okan: Department of Forestry Economics, Faculty of Forestry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, 34473 Istanbul, Turkey
Seda Erkan Buğday: Department of Forestry, Food and Agriculture Vocational School, Çankırı Karatekin University, 18200 Çankırı, Turkey
Coşkun Köse: Department of Forest Biology and Wood Protection Technology, Faculty of Forestry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, 34473 Istanbul, Turkey

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: In the Kozak Basin, which is the most important pine nut production and trade center in Turkey, there has been a significant decrease in production recently. In this study, the perspectives of the farmers in this area were investigated, specifically about reasons for the decrease in yields. For this purpose, a face-to-face survey was conducted with 378 pine nut farmers from the Kozak Basin. It was determined that the average age of the farmers is high, their educational achievement level is low, they generally also work in alternative sectors and almost all of them grow pine nuts in their own pine groves. The farmers’ perception of cooperatives was found to be negative. In general, the local people continue to produce pine nuts in their own pine groves, but nearly half of the participants also worked in other sectors to maintain their standard of living. Farmers attribute the low yield in the Kozak Basin to both abiotic and biotic factors. Mining activities, which are increasing, are seen as a threat to the future of production in the area. Also, there is a growing perception of biotic harm, especially from Western Conifer Seed Bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis . Climate change and air pollution are other prominent factors.

Keywords: stone pine; cone yield; mining activities; environmental threats; Leptoglossus occidentalis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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