Residue problem in sultani raisin exports and producer awareness: example of alaşehi̇r district of Manisa province

This study aims to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of producers engaged in Sultani seedless dried grape production in the Alaşehir district of Manisa province regarding pesticide use, and to determine the effects of these behaviors on pesticide residue and maximum residue limit (MRL) risk. In addition, producers' perceptions of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and their economic- and yield-related concerns during the transition from conventional production to the GAP system were evaluated in order to reveal the current situation in terms of sustainable and safe production. The population of the study consists of producers engaged in Sultani seedless dried grape production in the Alaşehir district who are registered in the Farmer Registration System, and data obtained through face-to-face surveys. Among a total of 3,885 producers located in 11 neighborhoods determined based on production intensity, interviews were conducted with 347 producers selected using simple random sampling. Proportional sampling was applied in the distribution of the sample across neighborhoods. The data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical package program. Production practices were described through frequency and percentage distributions, while relationships between variables were examined using cross-tabulations and the chi-square test. The findings indicate that there are significant relationships between producers' knowledge and practices regarding pesticide use and residue risk. Awareness of MRLs and compliance with the pre-harvest interval were found to reduce residue risk, while positive attitudes toward Good Agricultural Practices supported this process. However, yield losses and economic concerns were identified as the main factors limiting the transition to GAP.