TY  - JOUR
T1  - The comparison of social networks between organic and conventional hazelnut producers in Samsun province
TT  - The comparison of social networks between organic and conventional hazelnut producers in Samsun
AU  - Aydoğan, Mehmet
AU  - Demiryürek, Kürşat
PY  - 2018
DA  - October
Y2  - 2018
DO  - 10.7161/omuanajas.394923
JF  - Anadolu Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi
JO  - ANAJAS
PB  - Ondokuz Mayıs University
WT  - DergiPark
SN  - 1308-8750
SP  - 216
EP  - 225
VL  - 33
IS  - 3
LA  - en
AB  - The study was conductedwith the participation of organic and conventional hazelnut producers inSamsun, the oldest organic hazelnut production area in which most of theorganic hazelnuts are grown in Turkey and almost in the world. Both growergroups were compared in terms of their communication networks on the use ofdifferent fertilizers and the functioning of the network were presented bymaking suggestions on how to develop it. Socio-economic status of the organichazelnut producers was better than conventional ones in terms of land size,income, cooperation capacity, risk management and agricultural supports. The results showed that the organic producersused different fertilizers such as manure, compost, nutshell and husks fromtheir farms as well as packed organic fertilizers; whereas the conventional producersused only chemical fertilizers. Social network analysis has shown the graphs ofcommunication networks among the producers, their relationships with differentprivate, public and media information sources and especially revealed leaderfarmers whom functioned as source of information transfer (or even blocker)among them. The basic source of technical information for both groups of producerswas the experienced leader farmers; as for organic producers, the heads of thelocal organic producers' union was the main information source in terms ofcommercial, legal and organizational aspects. The formal information sourcessuch as extension staff of local public institutions and advisors of privateorganic marketing companies were limited and seldom used by most of the organicproducers. Therefore, organic producers developed their local knowledge sourcebased on their on-farm trials and experiences and shared this knowledge withintheir peer groups. However, this information needs to be supported withscientific findings.
KW  - organic agriculture
KW  - Social Network Analysis
KW  - organic hazelnut
N2  - This study was carried out to revealthe sources of communication and social network of organic and conventionalhazelnut producers in Samsun province. The primary and basic material of the studyis the data obtained from the surveys, interviews and observations of theorganic and conventional hazelnut producers in Çamlıca, Yüksekyayla villagesand Ağcagüney town. Both producer groups were compared in terms of their socialnetworks and communication channels especially on the use of differentfertilizers by making suggestions on how to develop it.The results of the research showedthat socio-economic status of the organic hazelnut producers was better thanconventional producers in terms of land size, income, cooperation capacity,risk management and agricultural supports.Social Network Analysis (SNA) has shown the graphs of communicationnetworks among the producers, their relationships with different public,private and mass media information sources and especially revealed leaderfarmers whom functioned as source of information transfer (or even blocker)among them. The relationships in organic hazelnutproducers’ communication network in the village are strong, dense andinformation sources are varied. On the contrary, the relationships incommunication network of conventional hazelnut producers were looser, strongand information sources were uniform. The main source of technical informationfor both groups of producers was the experienced leader farmers; as for organicproducers, the heads of the local organic producers' union was the maininformation source in terms of commercial, legal and organizational aspects. Inother words, both organic and conventional producers rely on knowledge andexperience of producers who take on the role of opinion leader within thevillage. Therefore, innovation and knowledge transfer to farmers can bedelivered through these opinion leaders.As a result of the research, it canbe said that institutional information sources do not adequately supportorganic and conventional hazelnut growers. Thus, organic producers developedtheir local knowledge source based on their on-farm trials and experiences andshared this knowledge within their peer groups. However, this information needsto be supported with scientific findings.
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UR  - https://doi.org/10.7161/omuanajas.394923
L1  - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/553598
ER  -