Apricot production economics in İçel province

In this research, apricot production, marketing and usage level of some factors in apricot production of the important producing areas of İçel such as Mut and Gülnar and the problems faced this area and some other issues related to apricot production were discussed. It was found that average land per farm was 49,13 da and 15,19 da was used for apricot production. The prominent cultivars grown are İ. Tokalı, Septik and Tyrinthe. The average yield per da and per tree are 372 and 25 kg respectively. The other crops grown beside apricot are of cereals and olive. It was found that 85,06 % of the active capital is land, and 14,94 % is business capital. The farms use 49,20 h/da man power, and 6,01 h/da machine power for apricot production. 1 1,76 kg/da N, 10,48 kg/da P, and 5,12 kg/da K are given to the apricot orchards per year. The farms made of average net profit 19.441.014 TL/da, 136% relative profit during this period. Production factors other than machine power are used in lower level than the optimum. Additionally, it was found that enough input usage in apricot cultivation changed depending on whether high quality fruit and yield were produced and froze damage occured during the vegetation.Key Words : Apricot, Production Economics, Production Function, Economic Analysis VII