Determining the Socio-Economic Importance of Saffron as an Alternative Product to Opium Production in Afghanistan
Empirical Economic Review, cilt.2, ss.1-16, 2019 (Hakemli Dergi)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 2
- Basım Tarihi: 2019
- Dergi Adı: Empirical Economic Review
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: EBSCO Education Source
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-16
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The objective of this work is to determine the socio-economic
importance of saffron production as an alternative to opium
production in Afghanistan, and to determine if saffron
production could influence farmers’ incomes. The primary data
for the survey was obtained via direct interviews with farmers of
4 saffron leader districts in Herat, where 95% Saffron
production was noted during 2016-2017. Factor analysis was
used to determine the factors that influence saffron
producers. Cluster analysis was used further, to separate farmer
income groups. According to the first cluster, the most important
factors affecting agricultural production were: negative climatic
conditions while market instability was the second factor. Saffron
producers’ annual average yield is 6.6 kg/ha in results that
showed that if opium production is permitted, saffron farmers
would produce opium due to the high revenue associated with
opium production in Afghanistan.