Economic analysis and environmental efficiency of oilseed sunflower producing farms in Türkiye

The objectives of the research are (i) to economicaly analyze the farms raising oilseed sunflower (ii) to measure environmental impact of oilseed sunflower production, (iii) to estimate farm level environmental efficiency, (iv) to explore the factors affecting farm level environmental efficiency, and (v) to examine farm level sustainability. The main material of the research consists of data obtained by face-to-face survey method from randomly selected 222 oilseed sunflower producing farms in Tekirdağ, Edirne, Kırklareli, and Konya provinces. Life cycle analysis was used to measure environmental impacts, data envelopment analysis was used to estimate environmental efficiency and sustainability index was used to assess sustainability. Greenhouse gas emission in oilseed sunflower production was determined as 95.35 kg CO2-e da-1. The environmental efficiency of the enterprises was calculated as 0.781. According to this result, it was determined that 21.9% of the enterprises used excess input. The duration of experience of the operators in oil sunflower production, production systems, environmental knowledge level of the operators, and implementation of environmental production systems of the operators have a positive effect on environmental efficiency, while the duration of agricultural experience of the operators, household size in the enterprises, and participation of the operators in environmental statements have a negative effect on environmental efficiency. The general sustainability index for oil sunflower was determined as 0.50. Organizing trainings for farmers to increase their environmental knowledge, encouraging the adoption of efficient irrigation methods and environmental production systems will reduce the extra inputs used in oilseed sunflower production, increase the profitability and environmental efficiency of enterprises, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the environment.