Study on Economic Evaluation of Spinach Production in Turkey

Spinach production in Turkey approximately 170.000 tons based on 1994 statistics. Spinach has not been important agricultural export product for Turkey. In major spinach producing provinces that Bursa, Konya, İzmir, Samsun, Adana Eskişehir, Balıkesir, Manisa 67 growers were interviewed and, some findings about structural and economical status of the farmers were analysed. Average farm size about 56.7 decar which has 5 number of parcels. Spinach producers have got growing experience for 10 years average. Spinach yield is average 1.016 kg per decar. Fertilisation important on spinach producing because of nitrate accumulation. However, producers mostly use ammonium nitrate. Urea and other fertilisers (15.15.15 or 20.20.0) are used in the second and third order. In spinach production, 32.78 hours of labour force and 1.56 hours of tractor power are used per decar in a production period.