AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightIt was found that 95.8% of producers received consulting services, but that nearly all of these services were provided free of charge by input suppliers (dealers).
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the information sources used by cotton producers in Şanlıurfa Province, their levels of satisfaction, and their willingness to pay for quality agricultural advisory services. The primary data for the study consist of data collected through face-to-face questionnaire interviews with 168 cotton producers. The respondents were recruited using a non-probability convenience sampling approach with voluntary participation. In addition to descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test were used in the statistical analysis of the data. It was found that 95.8% of producers received consulting services, but that nearly all of these services were provided free of charge by input suppliers (dealers). Despite the dominant role of dealers, it was determined that the institution meeting expectations at the highest level was universities (2.48/3.00). 80.3% of producers are willing to pay an average of 199.33 ₺ per decare annually for the advisory services they request. This amount corresponds to approximately 4.9% of the average annual net income from cotton production. Applying the survey-derived willingness-to-pay estimates—an 80.3% willingness-to-pay rate and a mean stated willingness to pay of 199.33 ₺ per decare per year—to the approximately 2.42 million decares of cotton cultivation area in Şanlıurfa during the 2022 production season yields a scenario-based annual payment potential of approximately 388.1 million ₺ for professional agricultural advisory services. This scenario suggests that the region may have an economic basis for developing a university-led, producer-participatory, and sustainable advisory model, although the estimate is based on stated willingness to pay and should be interpreted cautiously.