Analysis of women's labor force and decision-making process participation in scented herbaceous plants farming in greenhouse: The case of Muratpaşa District of Antalya province

In this study, it was aimed to determine the main problems and expectations in the production of scented herbaceous plants (parsley, dill, mint, cress, rocket) in the greenhouse in Muratpaşa district of Antalya province, the use of women in farms, the roles of women in production activities, the participation of women in the decisions in production and marketing process, and the problems and expectations. The main material of the research is the data collected by the survey carried out by women from 97 farms in Muratpaşa district of Antalya province. According to the results of the research, the greenhouse area where scented herbaceous plants are produced was determined as 0.607 hectare in the investigated farms, the average age of female farmers was 43.14 years and the experience period was 10.40 years. It was determined that an average of 9.00 hours per day was employed in scented herb plant growing. The average daily working hours of 5.64 hours (62.69%) are female and 3.36 hours (37.31%) are male labor force. 75.05% of the labor force used in scented herb plant cultivation is covered by family labor force and 24.95% by foreign labor force. It has been determined that 94.88% of the foreign labor force used in farms consists of female labor force. The amount of family labor force used in plant production of scented herbaceous plants in farms were calculated as 668.04 male labor force unit (MLFU) and 50.02% of them were female and 49.88% of them were male workers. It has been determined that 46.39% of women farmers are effective in decisions related to the production and marketing of scented herbaceous plants. In order to determine whether there is any difference between farms width groups and some socio-economic variables of female farmers, the results of the chi-square test found a statistically significant difference between the age, educational level, family size of female farmers and the situation of family income, the health problem caused by scented herbaceous plant production, farmers' computer ownership and use of internet. It is also divided into two groups as companies producing one scented herbaceous plant species and companies producing two and more scented herbaceous plant species. In order to determine whether there is any difference between these two groups and the women's participation in the decision taken in the scented herbaceous plant growing process, chi-square test was performed. As a result of the analysis, there was a statistically significant correlation between the women's participation in the decision process on how sowing the seeds, which inputs will be taken, the determination of fertilizer and pesticides doses, the time of use of the pesticides and fertilizers, when the crops will be harvested, whom or where to sell the products.