Economic analysis of pesticide use on processing tomato growing: A case study for Turkey

This study analysed the economics of pesticide use on processing tomatoes grown in Torbali-Izmir to determine the problems of pesticide use. Production data for 2003 were collected from 51 farmers who used pesticides. The average area of tomato production was 3.81 ha with 74,341 kg ha(-1). The average cost of tomato production was $3410 ha(-1). Gross margin and net profit were calculated to be $2833 and $1794ha(-1), respectively. The average usages per hectare of active ingredient of insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and acaricides were determined to be 228, 1367, 1007, and 9 g, respectively. Total pesticide and pesticide application costs were $141 ha(-1), which were 5.9 % of variable costs and 4.1 % of total costs, respectively. The economic threshold for pesticide use was determined to be 2014 kg ha(-1). (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.