THE COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL DRIED APRICOT PRODUCTION: A CASE STUDY FOR TURKEY

The aim of this study is to comparative analyse economic aspects of the production of organic and conventional dried apricot in Malatya Province of Turkey. Data was collected at farmer level by the production year of 2009-2010 have been obtained as the result of interviews made with 38 organic apricot farmers and with 40 conventional apricot farmers selected from the districts of Akcadag, Darende and Hekimhan in Malatya Province where apricot production is carried out intensively. The fresh and dried organic apricot yield per hectar were determined as 5,969.90 kg and 1,680.90 kg in this research. The fresh and dried apricot yield per hectar were 4,688.60 kg and 1,586.40 kg in the conventional farms. Gross production value per hectar is found as (sic)6,597.25 in the farms producing organic dried apricot and this value is found as (sic)5,197.49 in the farms producing conventional dried apricot. While variable costs per hectar in the organic apricot farms is found as (sic)2,285.32. It is found as (sic)1,812.97 in the farms producing conventional dried apricot. Fixed costs per hectar in the organic and conventional apricot farms are found as (sic)1,005.89 and 996.77, respectively. Gross margin per hectar is determined as (sic)4,311.93 in the farms producing organic apricot and it is determined as (sic)3,384.52 in the farms of conventional apricot production. Net profit per hectar in the organic and conventional apricot farms are found as (sic)3,306.04 and (sic)2,387.75, respectively.