ADOPTION OF METHYL BROMIDE ALTERNATIVES AND A PROFILE OF TURKISH CUT FLOWER SECTOR

Abstract

Surveys were carried out in 2003 and 2007 to determine the adoption levels of Methyl Bromide (MB) alternatives in cut flower sector under “Turkish Methyl Bromide Phase out Project”. In this study, a profile of cut flower sector was also analyzed. Samples of 124 growers in 2003 and 430 growers in 2007 were selected from Antalya, Isparta and Izmir provinces where almost all of the protected cut flowers are grown in Turkey. A simple random sampling method was used to determine sample sizes and growers were interviewed personally. Results indicated that 82.3% of the cut flower growers questioned was using MB to disinfect soil in 2003; however, this number was sharply reduced to 0.4% in 2007. Use of MB was replaced by solarization with alternative chemicals (89.3%) such as; metham sodium, dazomed and 1,3-dichloropropene. Grower awareness on MB alternatives and deleterious effects of MB on environment and human healthy was significantly increased during project implementation. Among the soil borne problems in protected areas, soilborne diseases was the most prevalent. This was followed by nematodes, weeds and other problems. Acceptance of MB alternatives by growers was very satisfactory with a 79% of support at end of the project. Size of protected-houses for cut flower production was very small, 82% of which was less than half hectare in 2007. Most of these houses were plastic (95.8%) and contained only side ventilation. Carnation was a predominant crop with a 63.6% of production area. Crop profile was mainly affected by crop prices and market demands. Education level of growers was about 7.3 years and 76.5% of growers were in between 31 and 50 years old. In this sector, 90.5% of growers had more than 5 years experience. In conclusion; MB use was phased out at the end of 2007 and alternatives were successfully adopted in cut flower sector in Turkey.