Benefit/cost analysis of mushroom production for diversification of income in developing countries

This study presents benefit/cost and SWOT analyses of mushroom production in developing countries as diversification of rural income; a case study in Konya, Turkey. Data were obtained through a survey method by application of 33 questioners. Benefit / Cost Analysis and SWOT analysis were used as methods. In research area, the average production area was determined as 1135.1 m 2. A majority (76.9 %) of the business in the province have four production periods annually. The average yearly output of the business was 45.4 kg/m2, that periodic output was 11.6 kg/ m2 and that compost output was 256.6kg/ton. The cost of 1kg mushroom as an average of business was USD 1.36 that its average sales price was USD 1.54. Strengthening mushroom production sector could be essential in order to enable the rural economy to keep its vibrancy and development, increasing and diversifying business and employment opportunities in the rural areas, and providing income opportunities for disadvantageous groups, small family farms.