GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF FACTORS AFFECTING AGRICULTURE IN UMURBEY RIVER BASIN (ÇANAKKALE-LAPSEKİ)

Abstract

Agriculture, is an indispensable sector of the economy due to the production of basic nutrients in meeting human nutritional needs, providing input to other sectors, creating jobs, direct or indirect contributions to exports. Technological advances and the application of modern agricultural methods make it necessary to determine the natural and human potential of basins where agricultural activities are carried out. In this study, It is aimed to identify the natural and human environmental factors that affect agriculture in the Umurbey River Basin and therefore contribute to the development of agriculture in this basin. For this purpose, topographical maps and various statistics of the the basin were used. ArcGIS10 program was also used to explain the spatial characteristics of the research site more clearly. Field studies conducted during the study period contributed greatly to the current state analysis of the agricultural activities of the basin, determining the physical and human factors and problems that affect them. This basin has a great potential in terms of agriculture. As of 2018, 81,549 decars (22.1%) of the total area of the basin (339,354 decars) were agricultural areas, while 86,670 tons of plant production were manifactured. 19,247 decars agricultural areas were not used in agricultural activities in 2018. In this basin, reduced rainfall in summer, forested areas, mountainous and hilly topography limit the agricultural areas. Inability to use agricultural potential efficiently, irrigation problems, soil problems and erosion, as well as the threat of settling in agricultural areas and improper use of land, unused agricultural areas, problems in animal husbandry, decrease in the economic return of agricultural products, migration of the young population, lack of knowledge and education on agriculture, inadequacy in marketing and branding, etc. constitute the main problems in the Umurbey Stream basin. Limited studies that will contribute to the development of agricultural activities in the basin increase the importance of this study from a field point of view.