Value chain analysis in dried fig and chestnut

Objective: The aim of this study is to reveal how the economic contribution to Aydın can be increased by examining the economic value put forward by the producers, intermediaries, processors and exporters, who are the actors of dried figs and chestnuts in the value chain. Materials and Methods: The material of the research consists of fig and chestnut actors who contributed to the value chain in Aydın's districts and villages in February-July 2022. In the study were used a total of 241 survey data, including 90 dried fig producers, 81 chestnut producers (171 producers in total), 20 dried fig intermediaries, 20 chestnut intermediaries (40 intermediaries in total), four dried fig processors, three chestnut processors (seven processors in total), 20 dried fig exporters, three chestnut exporters (23 exporters in total) and six chestnut processors operating in Bursa. Producers' willingness to produce/acceptance was calculated with the help of logistic regression. The importance level of the criteria required for each actor taking part in the value chain was determined with the best worst scaling method. The profitability and competitiveness structure of dried fig and chestnut production was measured by the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM). Findings: Among the actors in the value chain in figs and chestnuts, the actors with the highest marketing margin are the producers. The willingness of dried fig producers to accept organic farming was calculated as 74,26 TL/da. This amount of support is higher than the organic farming support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.The most important criterion in the marketing of dried figs is the amount of quality figs, the most important criterion in the marketing of chestnuts is the caliber of the chestnut. Turkey has a comparative advantage in fig and chestnut production compared to world production. The price of dried figs is lower than comparable world prices, and the price of chestnuts is higher than comparable world prices. Conclusion: Although processors are the actors with the highest profit margins in the value chain, the share of processed figs and chestnuts in the total sales of figs and chestnuts is very small. In order to increase competitiveness in dried fig and chestnut production, it is necessary to provide marketing support to producers, to improve warehouse conditions of intermediaries, to prevent exporters from reducing prices in national competition, and to provide R&D and P&D support to processors.