Labor use in greenhouse tomato production: a case study from Kumluca district of Antalya province, Turkey

Abstract

Purpose of this study was to determine labor use by gender in greenhouse tomato production in Antalya province, Turkey. The main material of the study consisted of data obtained from surveys, which were conducted by face-to face interviews with tomato farmers in Kumluca district in Antalya province. Simple Random Sampling Method was used to determine the number of farms to be included in the survey. The number of samples representing the population was calculated as 106. Results showed that family labor use per decare in tomato production was 242.63 hours/year. It was determined that 49.87% of family labor was male and 50.13% was female. Foreign labor use per decare was 35.02 hours/year. It was found that 20.36% of foreign labor was male and 79.64% was female. It was found that male and female in the 15-49 age group worked more than other age groups. In family labor use, it was found that males worked more in plowing, irrigation, pesticide application and fertilizing activities, whereas women worked with men in many activities but mostly worked in pruning, rope tying, harvesting and classification. It was found that foreign labor was mostly women and they worked in pruning (disbudding), rope tying, harvesting and classification activities.