Functional analysis of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) production in Turkey: A case study of Thrace region

摘要

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the most important agricultural crops which is commonly rotated with wheat in Thrace region of Turkey's European side. The input-output relation of sunflower production via Cobb-Douglas production function was examined in this study. The data used in the study were collected from 571 agricultural enterprises in 53 settlements in five provinces located in Thrace region of Turkey. Estimation of Cobb-Douglas production function indicated decreasing return of scale in sunflower production in Thrace region (sum of input production elasticity = 0.9451). All the variables in the equation were statistically significant at 5% level and only elasticity coefficient with respect to X-4 (precipitation) was negative. It was also found that seed, fertilizer, pesticide and land input in sunflower production were efficiently used. However, to get higher seed yield, the increase of fertilizer application will be necessary to reach optimum factor combinations.