Consumer Willingness-To-Pay for Different Organic Certification Logos in Turkey

Using data from focus group discussions with consumers and a choice experimentconducted in some of Turkey’s major cities, this study investigates whetherTurkish consumers prefer certain organic labelling schemes over others attemptsand to elicit their willingness to pay (WTP) for different organic certificationlogos. Although the level of awareness regarding organic certification logos waslow, consumers’ perceptions of the logos were generally positive. The results ofthe random parameter logit models indicated a positive WTP for the presence ofone of the three tested certification body logos in addition to the mandatorygovernmental logo. Given the low level of certification logo awareness, theconclusion is that both purchasing decisions and perceptions regarding logoswere affected by subjective criteria. Both the government and certification bodiesshould develop measures to increase consumer awareness of their logos and formconsumer perceptions and attitudes regarding the quality of the certificationimplied by the logo

Factors influencing the perception of organic certification logos in Turkey

Consumers’ perceptions on organic certification logos and the factors influencing these perceptions were explored. Data from surveys conducted in major cities of Turkey revealed that organic food consumers had little knowledge about logos, although the declared level of trust in organic logos was high. According to ordered logit models, consumer’s perceptions on organic certification logos were influenced by purchasing frequency and weight of organic foods in total food consumption. Dummy variables representing additional private certification company logos as well were generally found to have a significant effect on logo perception. This result suggests that consumers’ attitudes towards these logos and towards the governmental logo are not the same. Female and older people were more sceptical about the trustworthiness of the logos. While the credibility of the logos and the standards and control systems underlying the logos increased as frequency of purchasing organic food increased, those consumers who prefer organic open markets for buying organic food were hesitant to trust the credibility of the organic certification logos. The mandatory governmental logo and the underlying standards are trusted more than the private company logos. However, the difference of the attitudes toward logos decreases when the control system is in question. When a comparison between perceptions towards labels including different additional certification companies’ logos is made, the additional logo was found to affect the stated preferences more negatively when the companies were foreign. Enhanced interest and trust in the organic certification logos among consumers would foment the development of the organic sector, and the findings of this paper serve as an input for the achievement of this aim

Akdeniz Bölgesi ve Başlıca Tüketim Merkezlerinde Yaş Meyve ve Sebze Perakende Fiyatları Arasındaki İlişkiler: Pazar Entegrasyonunun Testi

Spatial price differentials for selected fresh fruits and vegetables, among six cities of Turkey, namely, Adana, Mersin, Antalya, important production centers, and İstanbul, Ankara and İzmir, main consumption centers, were investigated. The relations among retail prices of different cities were analyzed using Vector Auto Regression (VAR) models for each product. The existence or not, and the level of integration -in the affirmative case- among city markets regarding each product were tried to be analyzed using Ravallion’s dynamic analysis method of the market integration. Monthly data used are the retailer price series from 1994 to 2004, obtained from DIE for each of the cities. Retail prices of lemons, lettuce and tomatoes are considered as representative of fresh fruits and vegetables market. Results of the VAR model for lemons market revealed that Adana was the leader market, and that the prices of the other cities were dependent on those of the leader. The highlighted leader position of Adana in this market permitted the dynamic analysis method of market integration suggested by Ravallion to be applied in the lemons market. As the result, long-run market integration with Adana for three out of five local markets was detected. In the lettuce market, on the other hand, the VAR model suggested the retail prices in each city to behave fairly independently from each other. Regarding tomato prices, even though virtual influence of Antalya on other cities was identified examining the impulse response functions (IRF) and the variance decomposition obtained from the VAR model, Adana and Mersin were also observed to have their respective regions of impact. The level of leadership assigned to Antalya in tomatoes market was not highlighted enough for dynamic analysis of integration

Akdeniz Bölgesi ve Başlıca Tüketim Merkezlerinde Yaş Meyve ve Sebze Perakende Fiyatları Arasındaki İlişkiler: Pazar Entegrasyonunun Testi

Spatial price differentials for selected fresh fruits and vegetables, among six cities of Turkey, namely, Adana, Mersin, Antalya, important production centers, and İstanbul, Ankara and İzmir, main consumption centers, were investigated. The relations among retail prices of different cities were analyzed using Vector Auto Regression (VAR) models for each product. The existence or not, and the level of integration -in the affirmative case- among city markets regarding each product were tried to be analyzed using Ravallion’s dynamic analysis method of the market integration. Monthly data used are the retailer price series from 1994 to 2004, obtained from DIE for each of the cities. Retail prices of lemons, lettuce and tomatoes are considered as representative of fresh fruits and vegetables market. Results of the VAR model for lemons market revealed that Adana was the leader market, and that the prices of the other cities were dependent on those of the leader. The highlighted leader position of Adana in this market permitted the dynamic analysis method of market integration suggested by Ravallion to be applied in the lemons market. As the result, long-run market integration with Adana for three out of five local markets was detected. In the lettuce market, on the other hand, the VAR model suggested the retail prices in each city to behave fairly independently from each other. Regarding tomato prices, even though virtual influence of Antalya on other cities was identified examining the impulse response functions (IRF) and the variance decomposition obtained from the VAR model, Adana and Mersin were also observed to have their respective regions of impact. The level of leadership assigned to Antalya in tomatoes market was not highlighted enough for dynamic analysis of integration

Tarımda üreticilerin risk karşısındaki davranışları: Bölgesinden bir örnek olay

Coefficients of risk aversion are estimated for a random sample of cotton producers, using Moment Based Approach to Observed Economic Behavior methodology based on the amount of fertilizer used. of the 107 farmers interviewed, 84 are classified as risk averters, and the rest as risk seekers. Variable costs per dekar are found to be higher for risk seekers. Educational level, farming experience, adoption of new varieties, land ownership and annual-income are also related with risk aversion. Less data requiring Direct Elicitation of Utility Function method has generated a consistent grouping of farmers in to risk attitude groups, and correlated coefficients.Üreticilerin riskten kaçınma katsayıları Bergama Kestel Sulama Havzası örneği için, Momente Dayalı Yaklaşımın kullanıldığı Gözlenen Ekonomik Davranış (GED) yöntemi ile hesaplanmıştır. Görüşülen 107 üreticinin 84'ü riskten kaçınan 23'ü ise riski seven olarak gruplandırılmıştır. İlgili varyans analizi, pamukta dekara değişken masrafm riski seven grupta daha fazla olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Eğitim düzeyi, tarımdaki tecrübe, yeni çeşitleri deneme, mülk arazi yüzdesi, minimum yeterli gelir ve dekara değişken masraflar ile riskten kaçınma arasında anlamlı istatistiksel ilişkiler saptanmıştır. Daha az veri gerektiren Doğrudan Fayda Fonksiyonu yöntemine göre yeniden hesaplanan katsayılar ve bu katsayılara göre üreticilerin risk tutumu gruplarına dağılımı GED yönteminin sonuçlarıyla tutarlı bulunmuştur

Assessing the performance of participatory irrigation management over time: A case study from Turkey

WOS: 000277689100009In many countries today, irrigation systems have been transferred to the water user associations (WUAs). Accordingly, it is believed that the performance of the irrigation systems is dependent on the performance of the WUAs. In this study, the performance of participatory irrigation management (PIM) over time is assessed with regard to the Kestel WUA serving a wide area of Turkey's Aegean coast. Data relating to the WUA is obtained from both the State Hydraulic Works and WUAs' own records. In addition, two surveys have been carried out with the members of the WUA with an 8-year interval between them. Data have been analyzed within the framework of selected irrigation performance criteria and indicators. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the perceptions of the farmers on the WUA at different survey periods. A Logit model was estimated to evaluate the relationship between the irrigation problems and the level of satisfaction from the WUA. The performance of the WUA with the indicators of utility, productivity, sustainability and financial efficiency was found to be positive; while the performance of adequacy was identified as poor. The farmers were generally satisfied of the WUA's operation, with their level of satisfaction improving over time. On the other hand, the farmers were not fully convinced that they had input with the system management. The initial design of the channel system and its maintenance were identified to be the key factors affecting user satisfaction. Overall, the Kestel WUA may be considered a successful example, thus supporting a promising future for PIM. Yet improved control and farmer education is needed for a superior performance of all indicators; and further enhanced farmer participation in management should be achieved in order to raise the level of farmer satisfaction. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved