Alienation of Agricultural Fertilizer and Pesticide Suppliers: A Case Study in Adana

Abstract

'Green Revolution', a production form based on heavy use of chemicals, hybrid seeds, agricultural machinery and intensive irrigation has become widespread almost all around the world. It is claimed to have increased food production and solved the problem of starvation, but today is under debate because of its harmfull effects on environment and human health. The related literature has focused specifically on manufacturers and users of agricultural chemicals. However, there is an intermediate retailer ring, mostly agricultural engineers, where agricultural producers obtain their inputs and get information and advice on agricultural production. For this reason, in terms of public health and food safety, it is important to determine the retailers' level of sensitivity to environment and human health. The present study focused on the agricultural input retailers in the city of Adana, which is one of the most important basins in Turkey. Totally, 513 agricultural input retailers are located in Adana. In study, approximately 10% of these agricultural input retailers (50 retailers) were interviewed using face to face questionnaires. The study investigated their sensitivity to the environment and human health and also focused on the concept of alienation. Data obtained were evaluated using SPSS software and employing Chisquare independence tests. The study shows that, regardless of the level of education and income, the agricultural input retailers acknowledge that the products they market are harmful to the environment and human health but prefer to ignore this issue on account of financial and technical concerns.

Keywords

• Agricultural Input Retailers,Alienation,Turkey,Adana

Zirai Gübre ve İlaç Tedarikçilerinde Yabancılaşma: Adana İli Örneği

Abstract

“Yeşil Devrim” olarak adlandırılan, gıda üretiminde kimyasal gübre ve ilaçların yoğun kullanıldığı, hibrid tohumlara, ağır tarımsal makinalara ve yoğun sulamaya dayalı üretim şekli, günümüzde hemen hemen bütün dünyaya yayılmış durumdadır. Gıda üretimini önemli düzeyde arttırdığı, dünyadaki açlık sorununu çözdüğü iddia edilen “Yeşil Devrim”, çevreye ve insan sağlığına verdiği zararlar nedeniyle bugün artık tartışma konusudur. Bu konudaki bilimsel literatür tarım kimyasalları üreten firmalar ile bu kimyasalları kullanan üreticiler özelinde yoğunlaşmıştır. Ancak bu zincirde bir ara halka olarak zirai bayiler de mevcuttur. Çoğunluğu Ziraat Mühendisi olan bu bayiler, üreticilerin tarımsal girdileri tedarik ettikleri, tarımsal üretime dair her türlü konuda bilgi aldıkları, danıştıkları birer işletmedirler. Bu nedenle halk sağlığı ve gıda güvenliği açısından, üreticiler kadar zirai bayilerin de çevre ve insan sağlığına duyarlılık düzeylerinin tespit edilmesi önemlidir. Bu araştırmada Türkiye'nin en önemli tarım havzalarından biri olan Adana ilindeki zirai bayilerin, çevre ve insan sağlığına duyarlılıkları, yabancılaşma kavramı temel alınarak incelenmiştir. Araştırma alanı olan Adana ilinde toplam 513 zirai bayi bulunmaktadır. Araştırma kapsamında bu zirai bayilerin yaklaşık %10'u (50 bayi) ile yüz yüze anket metodu vasıtasıyla görüşülmüştür. Elde edilen veriler SPSS programı kullanılarak değerlendirilmiş ve Khi-kare bağımsızlık testi uygulanmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda zirai bayilerin, eğitim ve gelir seviyesi fark etmeksizin, satışını gerçekleştirdikleri ürünlerin çevreye ve insan sağlığına zararlı olduğunu düşündükleri ancak iktisadi ve teknik kaygılardan dolayı bu olguyu göz ardı etmeyi tercih ettikleri anlaşılmıştır.

Keywords

• Zirai Bayiler,Yabancılaşma,Türkiye,Adana

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