An analysis of the potato production and marketing system and evaluation of development trends in Turkey

This paper analyzes the economic aspects of production and the marketing system of potato, especially the production volume, trade, and consumption. In Turkey, 4.1 million tons of potatoes were produced on 154,000 ha by 158,487 producers, of which 7-10% was seed and 58-71% was for consumption, while the remainder is accounted for by discarded products, animal feed and losses. The average yield is 25-26 t/ha, which is below that of the major producing countries but above the world average. Potato production techniques and marketing systems vary depending upon the region. The variations in production, yield, and producer and consumer prices was found to be Lower than anticipated, and differences in real gross income obtained per unit area were found to be high. Diseases such as potato wart and potato brown rot have caused a 24.2% fall in production area and a 23.8% drop in production quantities after 2000, and the cultivation of potatoes and other tuber crops have been banned on 15,387.7 ha land. The average increase in the rates of potato production and consumption are almost at the same Levels. Of the average annual production, 1.9% is exported and the remainder stays in the domestic market. The average per capita consumption of potato is 47.1 kg, which is lower than that of the EU countries. Although the supply elasticity (0.034) and demand elasticity (-0.018) of the potato is considerably low, and it has been identified that an increase in income positively affects potato consumption, although at a tow rate. As the fluctuation of market prices negatively influences producers and consumers, there is a requirement for efficient production planning and market regulation.