No abstract

-The objective of the study was to present the current situation of water buffalo breeding in Turkey, determine the relevant problems, and propose suggestions for its improvement. The research data were collected at the "Focus Group Interviews" with the sector actors from the cities engaged in buffalo breeding between July and September of 2015. The cities included Afyonkarahisar, Bitlis, Diyarbakir, Istanbul, Muş, Samsun, and Tokat, where buffalo breeding was usually practiced by small-scale family enterprises that used traditional husbandry methods. The variables chosen as indicators of yield included milk yield, meat yield, and lactation period, which were found to be below global averages. The study revealed lack of adequate record-keeping of enterprises raising water buffalo. Buffalo breeders should take necessary steps to improve their strategies to increase buffalo milk yield, while government agencies should protect wetlands and prevent their unintended use, making relevant legal arrangements where necessary. Buffalo meat and milk should be promoted with an emphasis on their superior nutritional values. For the development of buffalo breeding in Turkey, necessary steps should be taken on both national and local levels.

This study uses the data obtained from 63 broiler farms engaged in contract farming in Akhisar, Turkey. The average feed conversion ratio in the broiler farms is 1.75, the average live weight 2.25 kg, and the mean market age 38.9 days. The feed conversion rate and the income generated are highly correlated (r = −0.76). The production index is 313.4. According to this production index value, 47.6% of the enterprises are below the average production index. It is highest when the marketing age is greater than 38 days, less than and equal to 40. In other words, it is the optimum market age range where carcass yield is at maximum. The average mortality rate is 4.68%. In 52.4% of the enterprises, the mortality rate is above 5%. There is a low level of correlation between the mortality rate and income (r= −0.26). In broiler farming, mortality rate, and feed conversion ratio are factors that directly affect the success and income of the breeder. In broiler farming, the heating cost has the largest share of the total cost, followed by the litter cost. They are followed by labor, electricity, and pesticide costs. Variable costs account for three-quarters of the total operating costs. The farms have a mean gross value of production of $23.797 per m2 and $1.400 per broiler in a breeding period. The profit margin is 0.572 $/kg per broiler. The mean enterprise net income in the breeding period is $9.197 per m2 and $0.541 per broiler. These findings suggest that broiler farming is a profitable venture.

Çalışmanın amacı coğrafi işaretli ürün olan Finike portakalının bölgeye ve kırsal alana olan ekonomik etkilerinin üretici açısından belirlenmesidir. Kırsal kalkınma stratejilerinden birisi yöresel ürünlerin korumasını sağlayan coğrafi işaretli ürünlerdir. Coğrafi işaret, belli bir niteliği, ünü ve diğer özellikleriyle bir yöre, bölge veya ülke ile özdeşleşmiş bir ürünü tanıtıp, gösteren işaretlerdir. Coğrafi işaret, küçük üreticilerin ve yerel ürünlerin korunması bölgenin kalkınmasına önemli katkıları olmaktadır. Türkiye'de 2019 yılı itibari ile 1464 adet ürün coğrafi işarete sahiptir. Bu ürünlerden birisi olan Finike portakalı olup coğrafi işaret tanımlamasına göre üretim alanı Finike ilçesi ve mahalleridir. Finike ilçesinin toplam tarım alanı 68358 dekar olup Finike portakalının (Washington navel çeşidi) üretim alanı 30300 dekardır. Araştırmanın alanı Finike ilçesi olup ilçede 584 adet Finike portakalı üreten işletme bulunmaktadır. Çalışmada elde dilen birincil veriler, tabaklı örnekleme yöntemine göre belirlenen 75 üretici ile yüz yüze görüşmeye dayalı anket çalışmasından elde edilmiştir. Çalışmanın sonucuna göre üreticilere göre "coğrafi işaretin bölge gelişimine katkısı vardır" önermesine katılımı en çok etkileyen demografik unsur eğitimdir. Regresyon analizi sonucunda üreticilerin eğitim seviyesi arttıkça önermeye katılımı düşmekte, eğitim seviyesi düştükçe önermeye katılımları artmaktadır.

Animal production systems and agribusiness Full-length research article Determination of optimum agricultural policy for buffalo breeding ABSTRACT-The present study aimed to determine the optimum agricultural policy components for buffalo breeding respecting the welfare of breeders. The data used for the study was composed of microdata retrieved from buffalo breeders in Turkish provinces, where buffalo breeding is widespread. The data retrieved via face to face survey was analyzed and interpreted with descriptive statistics and Conjoint Analysis, which is one of the multivariate analysis techniques. In this study, we investigated and discussed the scope of supporting policies provided to buffalo breeders to promote buffalo breeding and to assure its sustainability. Besides, this research is a preliminary and innovative study that intended to focus on breeders' utility in the evaluation of supports provided to buffalo breeding. According to the findings, the most critical factor for buffalo breeders in terms of producer-oriented policy framework appeared as "subsidy in cash paid per head" (32.10%), which was followed by "investment support" with 21.25%. In addition to these tools, "marketing support" (16.51%), "product support" (16.18%), and "investment credit" (13.96%) appeared as essential and vital policy tools.