Economic analysis of sheep farming in the Central Southern Anatolian region

ABSTRACT Ph.D THESIS ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SHEEP FARMING IN THE CENTRAL SOUTHERN ANATOLIAN REGION ERDAL DA?ISTAN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS INSTITUTE OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF ÇUKUROVA Supervisor : Doç.Dr. Aykut GÜL Year: 2002, Pages: 198 Jury : Doç.Dr. Aykut GÜL Prof.Dr.Şinasi AKDEMİR Doç.Dr. Murat GÖRGÜLÜ Doç. Dr. Haydar ŞENGÜL Yrd. Doç. Dr. Mithat DİREK This study analyses the economics of sheep farming in the Central Southern Anatolia Region. The analysis seeks to give a clear description in economic terms of the enterprises involved and so provides a basis for consideration of possible future improvements in this area of agriculture. The average annual gross production per farm in investigated farms is 11.966 million TL. Of the total gross production, 52% is derived from sheep production. Milk production accounts for 16,93% of the total sheep production value. The average net return per enterprise is 1.447 million TL and this increases with farm size. The unsuccessful enterprises operate with a negative net return of on average -439 million TL. Therefore to conclude, it is not economically viable to continue sheep farming production in this way. On the other hand, it is expected that to eliminate these farm enterprises causes almost 40.000 new unemployed people to the economy. The major proportion in sheep production cost is labour force with the share of 32,05% while the portion of feed cost is only 23,01%. In addition, the high interest payment (30,67%) is an important barrier in front of the sector to develop in the future. The main influencing factors on farm achievement are farm size and family labour usage rate in the farm. To be able to develop the sheep production, firstly, the flock size should be increased up to 50 ewes; secondly, the family labour should be used more effectively in the sheep production. The government subsidies should be increased either to encourage to sown feed crops or to degrease interest costs up to viable rates. Finally, it is another conclusion is that, exciting sheep production system should not be changed to the intensive production system. Keywords : Economic Analaysis, Sheep Farming, Production Economics Profitability, Factor Analaysis n