Organic Plant Production in the Black Sea Region

Abstract

Organic agriculture approach started with coming up the adverse effect‘s of chemical and genetic inputs on human health and natural environment in time, it has been also continued by raising the importance nowadays. Organic agriculture production amount of Turkey was 331.361 tons in 191.785 ha areas, although it was reached up to 1.627.106 tons (391% increased) in 379.042 ha (98% increased) areas. Black sea region has nearly 18.000 ha area (4.7%) of organic agriculture areas of Turkey. The region has organic agriculture potential with regard to regional land structure and qualification of produced products. In 2010, organic agriculture production was 31.960 tons in 88.322 ha areas, although it was 119.425 tons (274% increased) in 18.061 ha (80% decreased) areas in 2016. In recent years, Rize (57%), Tokat (14.6%), Ordu (7.5%), Gümüşhane (4.9%) and Samsun (3.8%) are leading provinces in the region in terms of organic production quantities. Tea (67.927 tons: 57.7%), hazelnut (11.785 tons: 9.9%), apple (11.253 tons: 9.4%), pear (5.207 tons: 4.4%), maize (4.705 tons: 3.9%) and alfalfa (4.301 tons: 3.6%) are major organic products of Black Sea region. At present study, current situation of organic plant production and potential in the Black Sea region were presented.