ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF TOMATO PRODUCTION IN GEOTHERMAL GREENHOUSES: A CASE STUDY OF AFYONKARAHISAR PROVINCE, TURKEY

The purpose of this study was to carry out an economic analysis for tomato production in geothermal greenhouses in Afyonkarahisar province which has a high potential with regards to geothermal greenhouse production. The primary material of the study consisted of original data collected by face-to-face questionnaires conducted with 20 producers carrying out their geothermal greenhouse production activities at Sandikli district of Afyonkarahisar province. Results showed that the average greenhouse area of producers was 39.85 decare (da) and that the producers carried out their production activities in accordance with soilless (substrate culture) production. The total yield was calculated as 50.05 ton/da according to the average of all enterprises. The establishment cost per decare of geothermal greenhouses was 479 176.41 Turkish Lira (TL) and the majority of this expense consisted of greenhouse construction cost (73.80 %). Gross product value per decare was 170,415.81 TL according to the average of all enterprises. Whereas general gross profit, net profit, and relative return per decare were 102 424.62TL, 49,016.01 TL, and 1.40 respectively. It was found that large producers were more advantageous than smaller ones in terms of gross, net, and relative return criteria.