ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN PROVINCE OF USAK IN TURKEY

Abstract

Organic agriculture consists of environmental and human friendly production
systems in order to reestablish the natural balance which is lost as a result of
inaccurate and excessive farming practices. In others words, instead of using
synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers, organic agriculture promotes organic
and green fertilization, crop rotation, soil conservation, increasing plant resistance
as well as benefitting from parasites and predators. In addition, organic farming
refers to improving not the amount of production but the quality of it. Due to the
spread of diseases caused by pesticide and hormone residue on the products, people
show great interest in organic agriculture so as to lead a healthier life. Total organic
agricultural production in the world is 4.516.810 tons, while in Turkey it is 353.173
tons. As for Turkey’s organic agriculture, Uşak province has little share in it
despite its favourable climate and location. In this study, as a methodology, we
analyzed the existing data on organic agriculture in Uşak province and in Turkey as
well as in the total production in all over the world. And then, we compared those
statistics with each other, finding that Uşak province, however great potential it
has, hasn’t been able to reach the desired level in terms of organic agriculture. We
focus on determining the potential of Uşak province for organic agriculture.
Furthermore, we aim to define the problems of organic agriculture and to find
solutions to them in order to make organic agriculture more widespread and more
practicable.