Watermelon production and marketing structure in Antalya

In this thesis study, it is aimed to set forward structure of water-melon production in Antalya with its quantitative and qualitative aspects. In this aspect, primary data retrieved via face to face survey from 70 producers in sum in Serik and Aksu towns of the regions, where water-melon production is widespread was used. Open and close ended questions, as well as ranking and Likert-scale type questions were used in the survey form utilized regarding farmer, farm and production and marketing profile. Data were analyzed and evaluated with simple descriptive statistics and Chi-square test in SPSS program. Due to the findings retrieved in the study, the most important problems experienced by water-melon farmers in production process were determined as high level of input prices, illness and detriments, irrigation and labor supply. The superior problems in the marketing phase were the monopolistic market structure, or existence of either one or limited number of purchasers and uncertainty of producer price level. Price uncertainty problem was related with the high effect on producer market induced by instability of retail price of the product due to the standard marketing margin. The results reached by the Chi-square analysis detected statistical relationships between production costs and income retrieved from production activity and age and education levels of the water-melon producers.