A Investigation of Agriculture for Geography: Viniculture In Bekilli (DENİZLİ)

Bekilli is situated in Denizli vicinity of Aegean region (Big Meander Plain-up cut) located. Because of the appropriate natural conditions, viniculture has been an important means of living for the community for a long time. Besides its table consumption (as being dry and wet), grape is a high nutritional value fruit also used in industry (in making wine, vinegar and pectin). Bekilli district towns and villages, which are directly affected by the change in policy of scale production of tobacco in the world and Turkey, were once the center of viniculture in the Aegean region where best quality tobaccos were also produced. However,tobacco production has gradually lost its importance and instead viniculture has gainedimportance again. In recent years, the lands where tobacco cultivation took place wereconverted to fields for growing thyme and bond to a large extent. This exchange ofagricultural products has resulted in highly important changes in the county s agriculturaleconomy. After the works, vineyard areas have been expanded and significant increaseshave occurred in production. The increases in production introduced viniculture-basedworkshop-type manufacturing sector, and thus economic significance of vinicultureincreased and it became the dominant economic function. However, viniculture couldneither leave traditional operating methods entirely nor could provide a sufficient economicprosperity for the public of district. Viniculture is facing significant problems primarilyreduction in output, then marketing and storage which are still waiting for solutions. Sincepeople can’t enhance their level of welfare, they still emigrate to nearby cities like İzmir,Manisa and Denizli