Introducing quinoa in Turkey –farmers perception in the region of Adana

Abstract                                                         To look for a more diverse and sustainable cropping system with high value crops in the Mediterranean region of Turkey, the drought and salt tolerant crop quinoa was analysed as an alternative to other less tolerant crops. This study investigates the geographical conditions for growing quinoa in Adana, and the perception among farmers in the region. A combination of qualitative and quantitative research was employed to group farmers in segments based on their level of willingness to adopt quinoa. Findings from this study indicate that farmers in Adana perceive quinoa as a likely crop to be adopted in their cropping system if they can gain market access with the new crop. Farmers’ previous knowledge about the crop, concerns about drought risk, and their farm characteristics also appears to be important in determining a farmer’s attitude towards new crops. JEL codes Q01, Q13, Q16