GENERAL ANALYSIS OF COTTON PRODUCTION IN RECENT PERIODS IN TURKE

Abstract

For producing countries, cotton is a strategic agricultural product that provides significant employment opportunities and added value in the value chain it generates in the food and textile industries with its fiber and seed. When the 5-year data of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) for the period 2014–2018 is examined; it is observed that 32.1 million hectares of cotton is cultivated in the world and 24.6 million tons of fiber cotton is produced on average. According to ICAC forecast data in the 2018/19 season; Turkey ranked 11th in global cotton production area, ranked 2nd in fiber yield, ranked 6th in production, ranked 5th in consumption and ranked 6th in imports. Cotton is one of the main source of agricultural income for many farmers in Turkey, it has gained importance after the growth of the textile and apparel sector. Depending on the agricultural policies applied in Turkey, significant changes occur in cotton sector. The aim of this research is to evaluate the general analysis of the changes that occur in cotton production areas, production, yields, and make suggestions based on for the years of 1991 and 2018 in Turkey. In this context, TUIK data, related sector reports and other studies were utilized. In Turkey, about 599 thousand hectares of cotton acreage was existing 1991, during the research periods it follows increasing and decreasing rates fluctuated rates and declined to 519 thousand hectares in 2018. During this period, with the start of GAP irrigation, the research period showed a steady increase in the first years of the period, and followed by a decreasing and increasing development until the end of research year. The volume of raw cotton production was 1.5 million tons in 1991 and 2.57 million tons in 2018.The average of the researched period was 2.16 million tons. Although there was no significant increase in cotton areas, on the other hand, there were significant increases in yield. While the average yield in 1991 was 253 kg per decare, it was around 496 kg in 2018.The average yield of this period was around 382 kg per decare. Turkey is importer due to the processing and export of textile products in cotton sector. According to trend analysis, it is expected that there will be no significant change in cotton production areas before new irrigation areas are opened, and a slightly fluctuating, increasing and decreasing situation will occur in existing areas. In the near future, if there is no significant change in public support policies and new irrigation areas are not opened, cotton production is expected to be around 2 million tons and yield per decare is around 500 kg.This research provides useful data to cotton sector, decision makers and agricultural policy makers.