Production and Marketing Problems of Tomato Producers and Quit of Tomato Production: The Case of the Central District of Tokat Province.

The cultivation area and production amount of tomato, which is economically important and included in plant production, is decreasing every year. In this research, which examines the problems of producers in the production and marketing of labor-intensive and high-cost tomato production, the situation of quit tomato cultivation is also examined. A survey was conducted with 76 tomato producers in the villages of Tokat province. It has been observed that the producers among the active working population have 25 years of tomato growing experience and their education level is at primary school level. While the biggest problem of tomato producers in production is disease and product loss, the biggest problem in marketing is low prices and price instability. It was determined that 49% of producers gave up tomato cultivation. The reasons why producers give up tomato production are; Because it is not profitable, product disease is a product marketing problem and input costs are high. In line with the research results, it may be recommended that producers organize seminar courses on the disease. It is thought that both product and price stability can be achieved by developing policies for price instability and, most importantly, by establishing marketing cooperatives specific to this product in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]