Agricultural Engineers' Perspective on Organic Agricultural Management

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to examine the knowledge, suggestions, thoughts and perspectives of agricultural engineers about the organic agricultural management department and to reveal the thoughts and suggestions of the engineers in this direction. In this study, a survey of 42 questions was applied to 437 agricultural engineers. This study was approved by Osmaniye Korkut Ata University Science Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee (2021/2/6). In the study, it was determined that 74,4% of the respondents are currently studying at the university and 25,6% are graduates. When asked what are your thoughts on organic agriculture and its products to agricultural engineers, 55,8% of the respondents supported and encouraged; It was observed that 44,2% of them found it deficient and insufficient in some aspects. When asked about organic farming management, it was determined that the rate of those who think that it is the branch of the faculty of agriculture as one of the professions of the future is 38,4%; 50,8% of the respondents received information about organic agriculture as a lesson at school; the rate of those who said that organic farming management department is necessary is 86,3%; 88,3% of the students who graduated from the department of organic agriculture management said that they should open a position; It was seen that 51,3% of those who said that the title of agricultural engineer should be given to graduates of organic agriculture management department. When asked what would be the first topic you would address if you were an organic farm operator, 42,1% of the respondents said organic plant cultivation and plant protection. 42,8% of the respondents stated that there are differences between organic and non-organic livestock in terms of yield, quality and cost. If you were thinking of doing organic livestock breeding, in which field would you do it, the answers were given as cattle breeding (27,2%), beekeeping (24,3%), poultry breeding (21,3%), small cattle breeding (16,7%), other (10,5%). While it is stated that the most important factor in organic livestock farming is sustainability with 27%; What is your opinion on the market situation of organic agricultural products? To the question, 59,3% of the respondents said that it is limited today, but it may be better in the future.