Use of Agricultural Land and the Importance of Apricot Agriculture in Malatya

Abstract

The use of agricultural land, taking into account the current geographical conditions, is very important in the context of agricultural development and land management. In this research, Malatya's agricultural land use was analyzed and the importance of Malatya's record in agricultural production was tried to be revealed. In our research, it is seen that land use in Malatya is largely shaped by topographic conditions. According to the data of both TURKSTAT and The Provincial Directorate of Agriculture, it is seen that agricultural development is in better condition than other provinces of Turkey in Malatya, which is below the Average of Turkey in the context of agricultural land assets. Malatya's fertile agricultural land is relatively small, but thanks to apricot production, it is seen that it has carried out its agricultural development. Malatya attracts attention as the place where the most apricot production is carried out in Turkey and in the world. In Malatya, the marketing of the record is done as an age apricot, but it is also marketed by drying the record, pestilshaped and making jam. This situation ensures that more added value is obtained from agricultural production in Malatya. Selling apricots as finished goods instead of selling them as raw fruits increases the income per kg from the agricultural product in question. In this context, apricot areas, which are of great importance for Malatya, should be expanded more, but on the contrary, apricot areas are swallowed by urban areas in districts such as Battalgazi. Previous research and findings in this study suggest that agricultural areas around 290,000 ha in the fertile Malatya Plain today will fall to around 200,000 ha after 20 years. Urban sprawning is the main reason for this. The problem of large population masses leaving the country and migrating to cities is the case in Malatya as in Turkey. In this context, both the local government and the relevant institutions and organizations in Malatya should take the necessary measures in this regard. Otherwise, Malatya risks losing its advantages in terms of agricultural development.