Current Situation of Mechanization in Cotton Harvesting in Southeastern Anatolia Project (Seap) Areas in Turkey

The present study investigated the history of mechanized cotton harvesting systems in the southeastern Anotolia Project (SEAP)area of Turkey. In 1994, initial studies on irrigation in the SEAP area showed that 30,000 hectares were irrigated. As of 2007, 180,000 hectares of cultivated area were irrigated. Upon completion of the SEAP Project, around 1.7 million hectares of agricultural land will be irrigated. The SEAP Master Plan forecasts that cotton production will account for 35% of the total irrigated lant. Hand harvesting of cotton is the most time-consumingtask in cotton cultivation, accounting for more than 35% of the total labor time. The scope of the present study includes the current status of harvesting mechanization, harvesting problems, the energy use patten and economic alalysis of mechanical cotton harvesting systems in the study area.Data were obtained through a questionnaire sent to 100 cotton producers across the Sanliurfa Province of Turkey, which is the most important cotton-producing province of SEAP. Basic operational data were calculated by using a computer-based data acquisition system.