Esin Hazneci

This two-year study evaluated the effects of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) waste-derived protein hydrolysates (HYDs), applied to the roots or foliage of soilless-grown tomato plants at 0.2 (HYD1), 0.4 (HYD2) and 0.8 g L⁻¹ (HYD3), on fruit quality during 28 days of cold storage under modified-atmosphere packaging. Because year × treatment interactions were significant, each year was analyzed separately. In both years, HYD treatments reduced weight loss and respiration rate and maintained firmness compared with the control. Root-applied HYD1 was the only treatment that maintained higher firmness than the control from day 7 to day 28 in both years, and it had the highest overall quality index in a multi-criteria (TOPSIS) evaluation at the end of storage in both years. In contrast, the effects on soluble solids, titratable acidity, vitamin C, lycopene, anthocyanins, phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity depended on the year, and vitamin C and lycopene responded in opposite directions in the two years. Fish-waste HYDs, particularly root-applied HYD1, are therefore promising for maintaining firmness and reducing postharvest losses of tomato, whereas their effects on bioactive compounds require further multi-season evaluation.

Bu çalışmada, Doğu Karadeniz Bölgesi'nde faaliyet gösteren beyaz şapkalı mantar (Agaricus bisporus) ve istiridye mantarı (Pleurotus ostreatus) üretim işletmelerinin pazarlama kanalları, pazarlama marjları ve pazarlama etkinlikleri incelenerek sektörün sürdürülebilir gelişimine katkı sağlayacak stratejilerin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmanın birincil verileri, bölgede faaliyet gösteren 78 mantar üreticisiyle yüz yüze gerçekleştirilen anketlerden elde edilmiştir. Pazarlama etkinliğinin ölçülmesinde Acharya'nın Modifiye Edilmiş Pazarlama Etkinliği yaklaşımı kullanılmıştır. Araştırma bulguları, bölgedeki mantar pazarlama sisteminin üreticiler açısından genel olarak etkin bir yapıya sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Nihai tüketici fiyatından üreticilerin aldığı pay her iki mantar türünde de yaklaşık %75 düzeyinde gerçekleşmiştir. Pazarlama etkinliği katsayısı beyaz şapkalı mantar için 2.52, istiridye mantarı için 2.62 olarak hesaplanmış olup, her iki değerin de 1'in üzerinde olması pazarlama sisteminin etkin işlediğini ortaya koymaktadır. Pazarlama kanalları bakımından, istiridye mantarı üreticilerinin %81'inin ürünlerini doğrudan tüketiciye satmayı tercih ettiği, beyaz şapkalı mantar üreticilerinin %76'sının ise toptancı kanalı aracılığıyla pazarlama yaptığı belirlenmiştir. Araştırmada, her iki üretici grubu açısından da en önemli ortak sorunun yüksek nakliye maliyetleri olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Buna ek olarak, beyaz şapkalı mantar üreticileri işletme dışından sağlanan komposta olan bağımlılıktan ve fiyat dalgalanmalarından etkilenirken; istiridye mantarı üreticileri, teknik bilgi eksiklikleri ve ürünün sınırlı ölçüde tanınmasıyla ilgili zorluklarla karşılaşmaktadır. Ayrıca üretici örgütlenmesinin zayıf olması, üreticilerin pazarlık gücünü sınırlandıran önemli bir unsur olarak öne çıkmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular doğrultusunda; yerel kompost üretiminin desteklenmesi, teknik eğitim faaliyetlerinin yaygınlaştırılması ve soğuk zincir lojistik altyapısının güçlendirilmesi sektörün sürdürülebilir gelişimi açısından öncelikli politika önerileri olarak değerlendirilmektedir.

The vegetable sector is distinguished by a dynamic structure in terms of production techniques, attributable to the recurrent sowing/planting processes that are undertaken on an annual basis. Produ...

The objective of this study is to enhance the efficiency of pruning techniques in soil-less tomato cultivation, a process that constitutes a substantial proportion of labour costs. The study evaluated several pruning strategies, including leaf pruning after harvest (T1), leaf pruning after fruit color break (T2), and single leaf pruning between clusters (T3). The study also integrated fruit thinning and sucker pruning into treatments T4 through T6. Moreover, T0 pruning was performed as part of the routine maintenance procedure. The highest fruit number (number/cluster and total), yield, and relative profit values were obtained in the control (T0) application. The application of T1 was found to have a significant impact on various parameters, including leaf chlorophyll index, average fruit weight, firmness, SSC, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values. The T5 treatment was found to be the most effective in increasing plant height, cluster number, stomatal conductance, photosynthesis rate, colouration rate, total flavonoid, and lycopene values. The initial colour change in fruits and the total phenolic content exhibited elevated levels in the T6 treatment. Excessive pruning has a detrimental effect on plant physiology and yield. It has been determined that the execution of these practices must be conducted with the utmost caution, taking into account the prevailing environmental conditions. In terms of yield maximization and economic profitability, the T0 treatment was found to be the most effective pruning strategy. In terms of quality factors such as fruit weight and firmness, the T1 treatment also yielded the most successful results.

Hazelnut producers in Türkiye tend to sell hazelnuts immediately after harvest. However, since hazelnut prices are very low at harvest time, this situation negatively affects producer incomes. This study aims to reveal the effects of the licensed warehouses established in Türkiye and the government’s support for encouraging licensed warehouses on the incomes of hazelnut producers. In the study, the profitability coefficient was calculated using 14-year time series data of hazelnut prices. The study result showed that storing hazelnuts in licensed warehouses without any support and exemption contributed 10% to producer incomes. It was also determined that producer incomes would increase by 22% as a result of the support and exemption policies implemented by the government for hazelnut production. It was concluded that keeping hazelnuts in the licensed warehouse and selling them in the following months positively affects producer incomes even without support and exemptions. For this reason, instead of selling hazelnuts immediately, producers are recommended to keep their products in licensed warehouses and sell them in the following months. The support system should be continued in a planned manner until the licensed warehousing system in Türkiye reaches a level where it can function on its own.

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the training activities provided to the female farmers supplying products to the organic product market in Sürmeli village, Bafra District, Samsun, Türkiye. A survey was used to collect data from female farmers who sell their products in the organic market and other farmers who do not sell their products in the organic market. The full-counting method was used to obtain the data. Within the scope of the research, a survey was administered to all participant farmers twice - before and after the training. The training was provided only to the female farmers producing organic products. When analysing the enterprises, the Kirkpatrick Program Evaluation Model, one-way analysis of variance, and covariance analysis were performed to determine the effectiveness of the training on organic agricultural production and marketing. Comparisons of the scores that measure the total knowledge levels of both production and marketing of organic production revealed that the score in the experimental group was statistically higher than that in the control group, and this difference was due to the training provided to the experimental group (R Squared = 0.633, 0.866). It can be said that among the participant farmers, those having a higher level of knowledge of organic production and marketing issues will carry out agriculture activities more successfully.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of Agricultural Monitoring Information System (TARBIL) on producers and their opinions about TARBIL. Questionnaires were administered to 105 farmers in 19 Mayıs district of Samsun province about their internet usage habits, access to information and evaluation of Agricultural Monitoring Information System. The effectiveness of information management systems in agriculture was tried to be determined by identifying farmers' opinions about TARBIL, a producer-based analysis was made. In general, it was observed that farmers have an awareness towards TARBIL system. However, it was concluded that farmers face some obstacles in using the system and therefore the need for training is evident. Although farmers' attitudes towards the use of technology are generally positive, it was also determined that there is a need for more ease of access and training support for the effective use of applications. Study results revealed that the views that the internet can influence farmers’ production decisions received lower scores and farmers’ lack of equipment and competence in computer and internet use showing that farmers have difficulties both in entering data into the system accurately and regularly and in accessing technology. TARBIL is considered to be very important for food safety, environmental and economic sustainability of agricultural production. From this point of view, the importance of making new regulations and further development of the system for the effective and efficient use of TARBIL system is once again understood.

It is necessary to switch to digital farming practices to increase the efficiency in agricultural production and to meet the increasing population's food needs. Digital agricultural practices provide significant advantages to farmers at many stages of production. This study analysed the effects of agricultural drone use, a digital farming practice, on farmers' production, yield, and income in paddy production in Samsun province. The results of the study showed that the use of agricultural drones increased gross profit by 107,31% and net profit by 254,61%. In addition, the increase in relative profit from 1.20% to 1.73% revealed that drones increased farmers' competitiveness in some aspects such as homogenous planting, optimum fertilization, and spraying. Although it is not possible to say that all of the increased profit is due to the use of drones, it can be said that this change is largely due to the use of drones. It should be kept in mind that similar analyses should be repeated to fully understand the effects of agricultural drones and that comprehensive training programs and legal regulations should be reviewed for the effective use of this technology.