Şeker Pancarı Üreticilerinin Tarımsal Mücadele Eğimlerinin Analizi: Amasya Şeker Fabrikası Üretim Sahası Örneği

Abstract

This study was conducted in 2024 and 2025 with the participation of 188 sugar beet producers who completed the questionnaires in the Amasya Sugar Factory production area. It covers the districts of Merkez, Göynücek, Gümüşhacıköy, Merzifon, Suluova and Taşova in Amasya province as well as Erbaa in Tokat and Havza and Vezirköprü in Samsun. The producers were divided into three strata by Stratified Sampling Method. The study determined that the attitudes and practices adopted by producers in managing abiotic and biotic stress factors (such as diseases, pests, and weeds) are closely related to their level of knowledge, sources of information, and environmental conditions. According to the research findings, all producers stated that they could identify some diseases in sugar beet; however, it was found that they rely exclusively on chemical control methods. The complete lack of biological control practices stands out as a significant deficiency in terms of environmental sustainability. While 32.45% of producers reported never having soil analysis done and 36.17% only occasionally, 48.40% applied fertilization with a moderate level of knowledge, and only 8.51% performed conscious fertilization with technical support. Among information sources, the Amasya Sugar Beet Growers’ Cooperative (98.4%) and sugar factories (72.87%) are predominant, yet the adoption rate of innovative agricultural practices is quite low. Regarding pesticide use, 50.53% of producers prepare the dosage as indicated on the label, while 47.87% follow the recommendations of dealers; however, only 42.55% regularly read the usage instructions. The average yield in sugar beet production was determined as 6,803.19 kg/da, but most producers considered this yield insufficient. In addition, the level of knowledge about crop production activities, participation tendency and opinions on sugar beet production of three different groups formed by stratifying the sampling in the study were compared and the differences between the groups were analysed by Chi-Square test. In conclusion, the study reveals that producers’ knowledge level, economic conditions, and access to information sources are decisive in coping with stress factors encountered in sugar beet production. Therefore, increasing producers’ knowledge, promoting biological control, and expanding sustainable agricultural practices are recommended as important steps towards solving the problems faced in sugar beet production.